HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : £300 million boost for Communities against Drugs [April 2001]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 April 2001.

A £300m boost to tackle the evil of drugs in Britain and to mobilise communities against drugs was announced today by Chancellor Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jack Straw and Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney.

Backed by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the Communities Against Drugs package will target resources at those areas that need it most, reducing crime, creating safer neighbourhoods and giving young people a positive alternative to drug misuse.

Building on the 10-year anti-drugs strategy, the cross-Government initiative includes:

• £220m over three years for police and local communities in England and Wales to disrupt local drug markets and drug-related crime;
• £15m over three years to help Drug Action Teams work effectively in their local communities;
• £5m over two years to increase the involvement of sports stars as role models and develop Positive Futures, a scheme to steer young people away from drug misuse through sport;
• £50m to accelerate the drug testing programme within the criminal justice scheme; and

A new web-based Communities Against Drugs toolkit at and information from a confidential drugs hotline on 0800 776600.

Chancellor Gordon Brown said:

“Today’s initiative starts from the only place where the fight against drugs can be won, in our communities.

It is a fight that cannot be won by Government alone, by legislation alone or even by cash alone – to win the fight against drugs we must dig deeper into the very core of our communities, giving power to community organisations and drawing strength from each other as we organise against the dealer and the pusher.

And when hardly a family is unaffected by the evil of drugs, it is time to build on the best in our communities to drive out the worst in our communities.”

The £220m will be spent on a new campaign to reduce drug-related crime. Funding will be directed through the 376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and used to deliver community-backed strategies including:

• High visibility policing of drug hotspots;
• Increase in neighbourhood wardens;
• Support to parents and residents groups;
• Improved security including CCTV and street lighting; and
• Extra truancy sweeps.

The money will be directed across the country with particular emphasis on the worst affected communities.

Home Secretary Jack Straw said:

“Drug-related crime blights our communities. It destroys families and young lives and fuels a wide range of criminal activity, including burglary and robbery.

I want this money to make sure that police and local communities have the tools and resources they need to take control of their neighbourhoods and drive out the drug dealers.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, Andy Cole, Trevor Brooking, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Martin Offiah, Bobby Goulding and other sporting heroes joined the Chancellor and Ian McCartney later in the day at the Salford Reds Rugby League ground to meet young people choosing sport over drugs.

Welcoming the additional money, Sir Alex Ferguson said:

“Young people are our future and should be offered every opportunity to aim high and reach their goals.   I know from experience that nurturing talent from an early age and investing time in individuals can pay dividends for everyone.

That is why I am giving my full support to Communities Against Drugs and to Positive Futures in particular. Drugs ruin the potential of too many of our children and sport provides a valuable alternative to the dangerous diversion they can create.”

Ian McCartney, Cabinet Office Minister, said:

“We won’t tolerate the menace of drugs in our communities – it causes misery and costs lives. We have made good progress in breaking the link between drug and crime and are on track to deliver our targets.

This new money will enable agencies to step up their fight against drugs and the crime it breeds. It will get drug dealers off our kids? backs and into prison and help safeguard our communities.”

Lord Norman Warner, Chairman of the Youth Justice Board said,

“We welcome this boost of funds to our partnership with Sport England and the UK Anti-Drug’s Unit.  Positive Futures is encouraging alternatives to anti-social lifestyles for youngsters who are at risk of offending as well as drug misuse”.