'SOFT OPTION' DRUGS COURT TO BE EXTENDED

SPECIAL courts for drug offenders are to be extended nationwide despite
criticisms that they are too soft on habitual criminals.

Expansion of the scheme has infuriated Conservative MPs because drug addicts
with long criminal records are shown mercy at magistrates' discretion. The
new courts will have powers to hand out more lenient sentences to drug
abusers who agree to have their addiction treated, even if they have
committed other crimes such as burglary. This could mean an offender before
the special courts for drugs and burglary offences receiving a lighter
sentence than someone before another court who has committed only burglary.

Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, is a strong supporter of the courts and
plans to extend the scheme, called the Substance Misuse Treatment
Enforcement Programme (Step), over the next three years from January so that
each county will have a court.

Last night, however, John Townend, the Conservative MP for Yorkshire East,
condemned the lenient treatment of offenders by the drugs courts. He said:
"Those who commit burglaries to feed their drug habits should not be treated
any differently from people who steal to drink or gamble. Prison sentences
can work and some offenders, if released too early, will just steal again."
William Hague, the Conservative leader, last week called for tougher
sentences for drugs offenders, not more lenient treatment.

However, a Home Office spokesman said that pilot courts in West Yorkshire
had proved the worth of the scheme. The courts were introduced in Pontefract
and Wakefield last year in an attempt to wean criminals off drugs rather
than just punish them.

Mr Straw has been impressed by the way the courts have operated. He said: "I
think this development, which makes use of the experience and expertise of
magistrates, is a welcome one and we may be moving in that direction."

A senior Home Office adviser said: "We have been told that the drugs courts
are working and working well. The scheme will be extended over the next few
years and will begin in Britain's cities."

Keith Hellawell, the Government's anti-drugs co-ordinator and a former chief
constable, is also backing the courts. He said: "It is excellent that
magistrates are getting together to discuss the important issue of how to
deal with drug offenders and look for solutions to help to break the cycle
of drugs and crime."

In the courts in the pilot scheme, defendants can agree to attend
detoxification and in return courts can decide against jailing them or
imposing large fines. They may even revoke previous uncompleted punishments
and can ignore customary contribution to prosecution costs.

The 12-month project has cost about pounds 320,000 and is believed to have
treated at least 150 addicts. At any one time there are about 70 on the
programme.

Offenders who go back on to drugs are returned to "normal" courts to be
punished. In the first 11 months of the scheme, 11 people were thrown off
and sentenced to other community punishments or prison. Many defendants who
come before the court are not cross-examined on their offences; instead they
are asked about their drug addiction and how they can possibly be cured.

Offenders who have come before the courts include Nicola Boshell, a
19-year-old single mother addicted to heroin and cannabis. She admitted
seven shoplifting offences when the court first opened in June last year and
agreed to join Step, which involves three stages - detoxification,
stabilisation and preparation for a return to work. Miss Boshell was told
that she had made excellent progress and was asked to come back to court
monthly to "get to know" the magistrate in charge of her case.

A large proportion of crimes are connected with the offender's need for
drugs money. It has been estimated that the average criminal on heroin needs
more than pounds 50,000 a year to feed the habit.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland also supports drugs
courts. Next month a pilot scheme will allow courts in Glasgow to impose
treatment and testing orders as an alternative to fines or prison for
first-time offenders.