Offer of drug, alcohol counselling popular with accused

A new programme aimed at stopping criminal reoffending by offering drug and alcohol counselling is being taken up by nearly a quarter of people arrested with drug or alcohol problems.

A pilot scheme for people arrested for crimes and found to have alcohol and drug problems has been held in Christchurch over the past seven months, approaching the people while they were being held in cells and offering to discuss options for getting help for their issues.

About 22 per cent of those approached accepted the offer - a total of 96 people, police project manager Tessa Watson said.

Ms Watson said there was a strong link between alcohol and drug use and criminal offending, so if offenders could be put in touch with counselling and treatment agencies it should lead to reduced offending.

- NZPA