Police can refer addicts for immediate treatment

The Plymouth Seamless Access to Drug Treatment project had hoped to receive more than �2m over the next three years after a visit to Downing Street by the city's Judge William Taylor.

The money would be spent bringing every government agency together to rehabilitate drug users - from health, education and criminal justice.

The scheme means that police can refer known addicts for immediate drugs treatment.

The aim of treatment and not incarceration would save taxpayers millions of pounds.

Priorities identified

But Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed the Home Office will be providing no new funding.

Instead they have allowed them to access about �200,000 from the Plymouth Communities Against Drugs fund, which had been ring-fenced against being used for treatment.

The Home Office denied that any decision had been made over funding for the Seamless drug project.

Home Office minister Lord Falconer said: "More money has been made available across the country.

"But priorities have to be identified as to what is going to be the most effective project in a particular area.

"And whether it will be that particular project, I can't say I'm afraid."

Chief Superintendent John Isaac, said: "While we are waiting for money to come through and while we are waiting to increase treatment services, we are not having the affect on crime that we want to have.

"Crime will continue to rise because of the drug-using offenders and until we can break the circle, that will continue to happen."