New move to tackle root causes of petty crime

A new drugs and alcohol worker is being hired to help tackle the root causes of shoplifting in Southend-on-Sea.

The appointment is part of a funding package worth about £125,000 aimed at rehabilitating criminals and breaking their cycle of addiction-driven offending.

The cash will also cover the cost of moving a full-time police officer to the seaside city to support the scheme.

Roger Hirst, the police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex, said: "If we do not treat drug dependency, the knock-on impact is the type of challenge Southend is currently experiencing."

His office provided just over £100,000, with the rest coming from Southend-on-Sea City Council.

The money, which is being given to Southend Community Safety Partnership, will also be used to try to reduce anti-social behaviour linked to Class A drug dependency.

Hirst, a Conservative, added: "Drug misuse and the pattern of offending linked to it negatively impact local communities."

The pilot scheme is modelled on a similar programme trialled in Birmingham.

Workers will target a small group of repeat offenders in custody by creating tailor-made rehabilitation programmes for them.

It will combine enforcement with rapid access to treatment and support for offenders, including by the new drugs and alcohol worker.

Martin Terry, the council's independent cabinet member for community safety, said it would give the authorities "a real chance" at cutting repeat offending.

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