The events are part of the first ever National Tackling Drugs Week which features a range of events throughout Yorkshire and the Humber, and the rest of the country. The Grimsby Drug Intervention Team met the Minister to discuss how they are getting drug users off illegal substances and into treatment for the benefit of them, as well as their families and communities.
The team plays a vital role in helping drug users quit illegal substances which in turn helps to tackle drug related crime. Overall crime has fallen in North East Lincolnshire by 15 per cent between 2002/03 and 2007/08, while over £150,000 of Class A drugs were seized by Grimsby A division police last year. In addition acquisitive crime, which is largely drug related, has fallen by 15 per cent in the last three years.
A wide range of activities are taking place through England and Wales as part of National Tackling Drugs Week. In Yorkshire and the Humber:
* Daily roadshows in Sheffield city centre will cover awareness of and information on drug issues, treatment, family support and enforcement;
* Safer Communities East Riding will host roadshows in Goole and Bridlington giving residents an opportunity to explore what is being done to tackle drug use in the area;
* Hambleton Community Safety Partnership will hold two street safe surgeries in Thirsk and Northallerton. Substance misuse workers, counsellors and drop in workers will be available to talk about their work and the impact it is having on the community; and
* An open day for Wakefield Services will take place at Wakefield Accord on Tuesday to highlight the achievement of service users and talk to people involved in delivering substance misuse services.
