News in brief

31 January 2010
Round up of the latest news from the field.
Arresting behaviour
Police in England and Wales arrested more than 7,500 people during a month-long crackdown on drink driving over Christmas, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). More than 223,000 people were breath tested between 1 December and 1 January, three per cent of whom were then arrested. ‘Despite all the messages that drinking and driving is dangerous and illegal some people still do not get the point,’ said ACPO lead for roads policing, chief constable Mick Giannasi. Meanwhile, the Home Office’s Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) has carried out its millionth drug test using Concateno’s drug detection system. The test was carried out in Sheffield on a suspect arrested on suspicion of fraud, and was negative.

Drug offences down
Drug offences recorded by the police fell by four per cent during July-September last year compared with the same quarter in 2008, according to Crime in England and Wales: quarterly update to September 2009. ‘These recorded crime statistics are heavily influenced by policing priorities and may reflect changes in the policing of drug crime more than real changes in its incidence’says the document. The previous period of increased recording of offences has been attributed to the use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings. www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Nutt cash
A hedge fund manager is providing £450,000 worth of financial backing to the Independent Council on Drug Harms, according to The Times. Toby Jackson will provide the money to the new body, set up by sacked ACMD chief Professor David Nutt (DDN, 18 January, page 4), over the next three years.

Awarding recognition
Voting is now open for the HubCAPP (Hub of Commissioned Alcohol Projects and Policies) awards, which aim to recognise people and organisations working to tackle alcohol-related harm in England. Click here to vote.

Manifesting recovery
EATA has launched its Pathways to recovery manifesto (DDN, 18 January, page 10) on how rehabilitation and reintegration can bring long-term cost savings to the NHS and benefits system. ‘Some savings could be made almost immediately and other savings in wider social impacts will come over the next ten years,’ said chief executive Peter Martin. Available here.
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