Drugs & Alcohol
Action to tackle drug issues within a programme of neighbourhood renewal Action to tackle drug issues within a programme of neighbourhood renewal
The Home Office is funding an evaluation of community regeneration programmes that address drug-related problems facing deprived communities. The regeneration programmes form part of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) initiative. Three NDC sites have been selected for the research. These are in West Middlesbrough, Norwich and Tower Hamlets. The research will focus on interventions that address drug-dealing, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour, and the treatment capacity of local drug services. The project will run from September 2001 to September 2004.
Background to the research sites
The individual components of delivery plans for the three sites share core common features:
more visible policing
police and local authority co-operation in housing management
greater supervision and monitoring of the environment (for example, CCTV, wardens and neighbourhood watch)
target hardening
changes to services that may increase access to drug treatment.
The research sites were chosen on the basis that there was a good fit between the NDC initiatives and DAT strategy and that the proposed actions had sufficient intensity and scope under the headings of enforcement, situational measures and treatment. The ethnic identity of the population of each area is predominantly white except for Tower Hamlets where the population is 75% of Bangladeshi origin and culture. The areas are characterised by having high standardised mortality ratios, high crime rates and low numbers of residents in paid employment.
West Middlesbrough NDC
has a population of 9000 people in 3800 households. Key action in this site relevant to the evaluation includes a problem-oriented approach to policing and additional police hours dedicated to covert operations. There will also be the deployment of neighbourhood wardens; target hardening of 500 households; six CCTV installations and improved access to treatment via drop-in, assessment, prescribing, treatment and support programmes for substance misusers.
Norwich NDC
accommodates 8900 residents in 3216 homes. The main elements of the Norwich drug strategy are: a Community Warden Scheme co-located with the police in their new base in the area; an assessment of options to modify the housing allocation policy to stop the further encroachment of dealers into the area, and a three-year service for drug users that will include outreach, support, shared care and witnessed consumption.
Tower Hamlets’ Ocean Estate NDC
is home to 6,500 people living in 2,000 households. Police and local authority initiatives will concentrate on targeting dealers on the estate and putting in place mechanisms to enable people to report incidents without fear of reprisals. In addition, Ocean NDC has recently developed its drugs strategy that aims to focus existing services more locally through increased co-ordination and inter-agency working. Particularly important is the role of 'NAFAS', a specialist voluntary organisation with responsibility for working with drug users within the Bangladeshi community. The Partnership is also investing in designing out crime as part of an overall package of housing and environmental improvements. This package will include the re-introduction of resident caretakers and wardens and a housing plan that features selective demolition and refurbishment.
Last update: Tuesday, October 03, 2006