The potential success this unique course of justice can deliver can have a dramatic impact on reducing crime in the city

Dr Richard Simpson Deputy Justice Minister

Its objective is to help offenders change their lifestyle and break the cycle of addiction and criminality.

Once cases have been assessed by lawyers, social workers and the sheriff, the offender is placed on a Drug Testing and Treatment Order (DTTO).

Over a three year period, the offender returns to court regularly - sometimes every two weeks - to review progress.

The US-style court has now been in operation for six months.

It has heard more than 60 cases and issued 33 DTTOs.

Commit crime

Deputy Justice Minister Dr Richard Simpson said he was "encouraged" by early results.

Offenders have reduced their habits by almost 90% - with those six months into a DTTO spending �57 rather than �490 a week on drugs - and consequently cut the need to commit crime.

"The potential success this unique course of justice can deliver can have a dramatic impact on reducing crime in the city, as well as diverting suitable cases away from custody to rehabilitation with the aim of breaking the cycle of crime and drug dependency," said Dr Simpson.

"The drug court is by no means a soft option.

The court deals with drug-using offenders

"Those referred to the drug court undergo a rigorous programme of drug testing and treatment and can be referred back to the courts for sentencing if they break the terms of their order."

Glasgow currently experiences an estimated 2.5 million drug-related crimes each year.

Scotland Against Drugs (SAD) director Alistair Ramsay said offenders had to work hard to comply with the orders imposed on them.

He said that when he visited the court he saw something "very different" to what he had expected.

And he told BBC Radio Scotland: "It has got a very high potential success rate for the right circumstances

"Great care is taken to make sure that people who are dealt with by the court are able to fit into the system and to the treatments that are possible."

Different model

This could involve a methadone programme to wean an addict off heroin, close involvement with the social work department or regular counselling.

"Most importantly, the court will monitor what is going on over an extended period of time and on a regular basis," he said.

A second drug court is due to open in Fife later this year.

Mr Ramsay said this would examine whether a different, similar or an identical model would work in more rural areas.

The system handles drug-using petty offenders separately, while drug dealers and more serious drug-related crimes are still dealt with by mainstream courts.