29. Mr. Desmond TurnerTo ask the Secretary of Suite for the Home Department what plans he has to address the link between drugs and crime. [5538]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Home Office has a research programme designed to shed further light on the 363W links between drugs and crime. In addition, a Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative study is testing the impact of drug treatment interventions in the criminal justice system—from arrest through to sentence and beyond—to refer people with drugs problems to drug treatment programmes.
A new testing and treatment order will be introduced to give courts the powers to require drug misusing offenders to undergo treatment. The new order will be rigorously enforced and include the use of drug testing to ensure those in treatment are staying off illegal drugs.
The Government will also appoint an anti-drugs supremo to co-ordinate action against drugs. One of his or her first tasks will be to review urgently the existing drugs strategy and to put forward proposals for tackling drug misuse and related crime with renewed vigour.