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Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives
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Coventry was host to new Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker in his first official visit as Minister with responsibility for drugs policy.
The Minister was visiting the city as part of a nine-month nationwide tour to see how the Government's Drug Strategy is impacting on communities across the country - and to hear from drug workers and users what more needs to be done to help tackle the problem.
He spoke to some of the people using the SWISH (Sex Workers into Sexual Health) project service (run by the Terrence Higgins Trust) about how it helps them to tackle their drug problems through treatment advice, training and education to help them find other work. Afterwards he attended an event with drugs workers, service providers and community representatives from the region.
Vernon Coaker said: "I joined the Home Office just over a week ago and am delighted to have been asked by the Home Secretary to lead on Drugs Policy. It is, undoubtedly, one of the most controversial and complex areas we face. Drugs cause untold harm to individuals, families and communities, and I have seen first hand the destruction it can cause
"I am inspired today by the dedication people working in the front line of drugs services, helping people to get the treatment and support they need and support them on that course. I also admire the determination of people I met who are trying deal with their drug problems and turn their lives around.
"Tackling drugs is one this Government's top priorities. We have invested unparalleled sums, given new powers to the police and courts and expanded the workforce. But we also know that we must do more.
"We need to drive down further drug-related crime, to see more drug misusers into treatment, to create more facilities and support for our young people so that they can resist drugs. I also want to see safe and strong local communities free from the drug dealers and profiteers of this misery".
In Coventry:
Drug-related crime in the West Midlands Police Force area is down by almost 20% and down by more than 16% in the region. Some 996 people entered treatment in 2004/05 compared to 906 in 2003/04 - an increase of almost 10% (compared to 27% nationally). Funding for treatment has grown substantially, rising from £19.2 million in the West Midlands region in 2003 to nearly £48 million in the current financial year. Funding for treatment in Coventry has risen by more than 21%, from £1.4 in 2005/06 to million to £1.7 million in 2006/07.
