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Salter demands intervention over drug funding cuts
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Reading West MP, Martin Salter has today written to Vernon Coaker, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office with responsibility for drugs strategy, asking for an explanation for proposed funding cuts for the West Berkshire Drug and Alcohol Action team, and seeking an urgent meeting with him in a bid to get the funding restored.
The Drug Intervention Programme grant is to be cut by 11.5% for the year 2007/8 and this funding is specifically used to commission local drug treatment services to enable drug users who are in contact with the criminal justice system to access treatment. The Young Person’s Substance Misuse programmes will also be cut by 11.5%. Possible impacts include: - a reduction in drugs workers - an increase in drug related crime - fewer drug users receiving treatment - an increase in drug related deaths - an increase in prostitution Mr Salter said: “I cannot believe that the Home Office is making these cuts to such vital services. In Reading and West Berkshire we are doing all we can to cut drug related crime and get drug addicts into treatment to break the cycle of re-offending and addiction. "This cut in funding must be demoralising for all those committed people who work to reduce drug addiction and crime. I think the Home Office needs to explain this decision, and quickly.” In his letter, Mr Salter said: “With 60-70% of all acquisitive crime in Reading having its roots in drug addiction it makes no sense to be reducing the Drug Intervention Programme. It is a false economy – if anything these programmes need more money not less.” Mr Salter has received approaches from drugs workers in Reading worried about future funding and representation from Nick Carter, Chief Executive of West Berkshire District Council; Councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council Lead Councillor for Community Action and Councillor Pete Ruhemann, Reading Borough Council Lead Councillor for Children’s Services. 16/04/07
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