Drug rehab programme gets charity status
A Bournemouth based scheme to rehabilitate drug-dependent persistent offenders had become the first police-led project to gain registered charity status.
A Bournemouth based scheme to rehabilitate drug-dependent persistent offenders had become the first police-led project to gain registered charity status.
The Pier project was launched in 2003 and has worked with 38 people nine have become totally drug and crime free, 21 still receive treatment under the project and the remainder have returned to crime, being convicted and imprisoned.
Detective Inspector Neil Claughton, who manages the scheme, said: “The Pier Project gives offenders a simple choice. Either work with us and we will help you access treatment, housing and support or continue to commit crime and we will focus police activity on arresting, convicting and imprisoning you.
“The scheme has been a great success in Bournemouth. Our analysis shows that working with persistent offenders has saved the town £14.8 million worth of crime that would have been committed to fund their drug habits. Now, with charity status, we hope to expand the scheme even further,” he added.
Registered charity status allows funding to be sought from local companies, who the police hope will be aware of the long-term benefits that rehabilitation of offenders has for the town.