A new strategy launched today aims to tackle Cleveland’s drugs’ problems over the next decade.
Cleveland Combating Drugs Partnership has just published its 2023 to 2032 Strategy.
It has three priority areas:
- Preventing those at most risk from falling into substance misuse while reducing the harm caused to those who do use;
- Delivering world class treatment and recovery services across Cleveland;
- Reducing drug supply and drug-related crime
The strategy’s aims include getting Recovery City status for all four Cleveland boroughs (Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar and Cleveland.)
A first for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is the UK’s first member of the Inclusive Recovery Cities programme.
The programme has been spearheaded by Leeds University’s Centre of Addiction Recovery Research in this country.
Recovery City emphasises the positive value that people in recovery have to wider society. It also aims to remove the shame and stigma around addiction.
In the strategy, the partnership takes a balanced approach. It makes sure robust enforcement keeps drugs out of communities. At the same time, it aims to get people support to reduce substance use and stop others from taking drugs.
The strategy wants to make sure that the whole system works together in a more effective and co-ordinated way.
The partnership aims to do this by making sure services take a trauma-informed, person-centred approach. That means getting to the heart of why a person uses drugs, helping them tackle their problems and providing personalised support to guide them away from addiction.
The strategy is also keen to tackle the stigma of addiction, promoting a more positive image of recovery. It also wants to encourage people in recovery to become more integrated into their communities.
PCC leads the way
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Steve Turner chairs the partnership and acts as its Senior Responsible Owner. That means he is accountable for local delivery of the Government’s From Harm to Hope strategy.
With strategic representation from the OPCC, Cleveland Police, local authorities, Probation Service North-East, NHS and the Department for Health and Social Care, the partnership aims to reduce the impact of drugs on communities.
Cleveland PCC Steve Turner said: “We’ve taken huge steps forward in Cleveland over the last two years both in terms of enforcement and partnership working when it comes to the issues drugs create in our communities.
“Drug use drives much of our crime and ASB statistics not to mention being at the heart of so many serious violence incidents. This has to be tackled and the police cannot do it alone.
“Robust enforcement and the disruption of criminal gangs is just one part of the puzzle. We also need to get to the root causes of why people take drugs, help them overcome their problems and stop them becoming addicted in the first place.
“We need to ensure our public health partners deliver the best care and recovery treatment possible to support people out of addiction and we need the toughest possible enforcement of the law to keep drugs – and the organised crime gangs, who deal in them – off our streets.
“Only with this co-ordinated, three-pronged attack can we rid our communities of the misery of addiction and drug-related crime associated with substance abuse.”
Richard Baker, Assistant Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, said: “Drugs are one of the main drivers of criminality especially for serious violence and knife crime in Cleveland. This is primarily caused by organised crime groups involved in the supply of drugs.
“Some of the most vulnerable in society are being exploited both in terms of drug taking and selling drugs at street level. All of this drives local acquisitive crime and anti-social behaviour.”
Reducing deaths
Craig Blair, Director of Place-Based Delivery, North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “Progression of the strategy will support our own Integrated Care System goal of reducing the number of drug-related deaths.
“We want to reduce deaths by at least 15% by 2030 as part of the Integrated Care Strategy Better Health and Wellbeing For All.”
Denise McGuckin, Managing Director of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “The strategy demonstrates the commitment to work together to reduce the harms associated with drug and alcohol misuse.
“It also places greater emphasis on reducing the supply of drugs and tackling drug-related crimes in our communities.”
Among the measures being considered as part of the strategy are plans to recruit volunteers as community champions. They will promote the message of a drug-free Cleveland.
Wider police use of stop and search and cross-border collaboration aims to clamp down on people carrying drugs and weapons as well as County Lines organised crime gangs.