Does severity reduce crime?

[JohnD]

A test of some dramatic measures to reduce offending by drug addicts seems to be bearing fruit. However the methods used would be shocking to some, and go against everything they stand for, so it will be very difficult to get them accepted by Parliament.

"Researchers studied six of the participants over 29 weeks in the programme, who prior to the scheme had been responsible for at least 541 crimes at an estimated cost to the public purse of £2.1m.



Between them, they committed just three lower-scale offences over 29 weeks of treatment.


After this period, four had not reoffended. One completed their probation period but committed one crime – down from an average of three offences every six months prior to the programme.


The other participant, who had previously not gone longer than two weeks between prison sentences having committed some 239 crimes, committed two offences during treatment.


“I used to shoplift to feed my habit,” one of the participants told researchers. “I needed at least £40 a day for my addiction. Even day, seven days a week. That’s £40 I’d sell it for so it had to be £80’s worth of their stock. Seven days a week at £80 a day."

 

[JohnD]

"In addition to a 99 per cent reduction in illicit heroin use and 98 per cent for cocaine, researchers noted clients’ on average used less of every other type of drug measured, save for tobacco. Four of the cohort did not test positive for illicit heroin at any point between weeks 19 and 29."

 

[JohnD]

"None of the six were homeless after one month, with four in secure accommodation after four months. At the outset, just two of the cohort lived in secure accommodation, with an additional two sleeping rough.


Furthermore, scores for their psychological and physical health – based on self-declarations – all more than doubled after just one month of treatment, rising by 329 per cent and 142 per cent respectively after seven months.


The number of self-declared hospital visits and ambulance requirements were also reduced, with only four ambulance call-outs and no A&E visits in six months, compared with two of each in the month prior to treatment."

 

[JohnD]

“The latest analysis suggests the pilot has delivered very promising results and so it was very important we find the funding to continue,” said Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger, who launched and part-funds the scheme.


“I’m delighted that money seized from criminal gangs who have blighted local communities is now being used to fund this pioneering approach that brings hope to users and their families and improves local life for residents and businesses.”


He added: “We should not forget we are talking about entrenched users who have been on a cycle of committing crime to fund addiction for over 20 years. Prison, increased sentencing, police crackdowns and all other efforts to break that cycle have failed nationally and, indeed, globally."

 

[Trazor]

This may help.........

https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk...atment-programme-following-early-success.aspx

 

[IT Minion]

No matter how much it might work as long as you have puritanical tabloids raving about paying for druggies heroin fixes no one in power is going to roll it out beyond pilots.

Now, if you could convince the Daily Mail to take it on as a clever way to reduce burglaries and get then to campaign for it, then it'll be nationwide by Christmas.

 

[^woody^]

Researchers studied six of the participants

That seems indicative then, so must be right.

 

[IT Minion]

That seems indicative then, so must be right.

So, worthy of a larger study then.

 

[^woody^]

A good few years ago I was involved with a local Police force implementing a novel passive anti-crime initiative for property security and estate layout on a bit of a crime hotspot council estate.

The officer in charge mentioned to me that it was in fact very easy for them to track down the people for many of the different prevalent crimes, as it was just the same people, doing the same crimes, in the same way, leaving the same clues, and fencing the gear to the same people. They were just rotating in and out of the nick. So the Police effectively put release dates into their calendars and then could nip in the bud the next lot of crime from certain people. What let them down was the CPS and court system which did not prosecute adequately, or bang these lowlifes up for long enough.

Less than half the crime was drug related, the rest was just about nicking stuff they wanted or wanted to sell for other stuff they wanted.

No amount of softly softly PC weaning off drugs or crime schemes worked, and the only way that crime stopped for the locals was when the criminals were locked up.

Anyway the initiative worked for the estate, along with instilling more community spirit and help, but the downside was that the criminals just moved either themselves or their actions to places further away.

 

[IT Minion]

No amount of softly softly PC weaning off drugs or crime schemes worked, and the only way that crime stopped for the locals was when the criminals were locked up.

Anyway the initiative worked for the estate, along with instilling more community spirit and help, but the downside was that the criminals just moved either themselves or their actions to places further away.

This isn't weaning them off drugs, this is prescribing drugs. Which seems to work every time it is tried.

 

[Ihavenojob]

This isn't weaning them off drugs, this is prescribing drugs. Which seems to work every time it is tried.

So instead of them stealing to get drugs, they are given free drugs, so to stop all burglaries, just give anyone anything they want,for free, simple.

 

[^woody^]

This isn't weaning them off drugs, this is prescribing drugs. Which seems to work every time it is tried.

No the reference to drug crime is a misnomer. Those druggies would be commiting crime regardless, and much of the crime that affects people directly at or around their home is not related to drugs.

So in JD's drug-fuelled Utopia, the addicts get their fix, only at the taxpayers expense and crime does not reduce, we all just get to fund their lifestyle.

 

[Brigadier]

So instead of them stealing to get drugs, they are given free drugs, so to stop all burglaries, just give anyone anything they want,for free, simple.

Just remember to not proffer such advice for free ; there's a nice council or quango job to be made out of it.

 

[noseall]

Tory government for ya.

 

[Vinty]

"None of the six were homeless after one month, with four in secure accommodation after four months. At the outset, just two of the cohort lived in secure accommodation, with an additional two sleeping rough.


Furthermore, scores for their psychological and physical health – based on self-declarations – all more than doubled after just one month of treatment, rising by 329 per cent and 142 per cent respectively after seven months.


The number of self-declared hospital visits and ambulance requirements were also reduced, with only four ambulance call-outs and no A&E visits in six months, compared with two of each in the month prior to treatment."

How does giving free drugs to addicts help protect their physical and psychological health.
Would you recommend that severe alcoholics should be offered free alchol to cure their addiction and improve their health.