Violators will see the same judge at least once a month and receive “intensive” support to break their habits as part of a £8.25 million pilot project. The government is concerned that more people die each year from drug abuse than from all knife crime and road accidents combined, costing society nearly £22 billion. Addicts going through the new justice system can get help with housing and education, as well as support from substance abuse specialists.
Offenders will be offered a full range of treatments to help them achieve “abstinence” – but they will face jail time if they refuse to abide by the terms of their sentence.
Justice Minister Dominic Raab said: “Sustainably getting criminal offenders off drugs is the gateway to getting them to work and a law-abiding future. Only when offenders are drug-free can they seize the opportunities of skills training and employment and turn their backs on crime for good.
“So these innovative courts will help us understand the nettle of drug addiction and make our streets safer.”
Judges and magistrates can relax conditions if people make good progress, but also impose sanctions if they do not meet the required standards. Violators can be jailed for up to 28 days, up to a maximum of three times.
The first three of the PSCs are being tested as part of the government’s £900 million drug strategy. Two courts will be launched in Liverpool and Teesside Crown Courts. One at the Birmingham Magistrates’ Court will focus on female offenders with complex needs.
Teesside and Merseyside are considered to have a “high need” when it comes to fighting drug crime.
The Northeast had the highest number of drug abuse deaths in England and Wales in 2020 – 104.6 deaths per million people compared to the national figure of 52.3 deaths.
The government is considering setting up two more courts.
The launch of the latest pilot project follows a previous initiative targeting women who violate.
Maria – not her real name – was given an 18-month suspension and had to attend the Greater Manchester Women’s PSC.
She said: “At first I was afraid of being judged, but it’s not like that – the judges support you and want to keep you on track. You have to want to change.
“But after you’ve made that decision, it’s incredibly hard to go it alone and that’s why things like probation and the PSC are so important, to avoid slipping back.”