WAR ON DRUGS

Sir: The Government's investment in a drugs policy aimed at rehabilitation
and education is laudable ("Ministers pledge to halve UK drug abuse", May
26). However, if it is to have an impact on drug-related crime, more
emphasis is needed on careful co-ordination of funding.

The allocation of pounds 76m to the Prison Service over the next three years
will ensure that every prison will be able to offer a basic assessment and
referral service, aimed at prisoners who will not spend long enough in jail
to access one of the 30 or more full-time treatment programmes to be
created. Unless there is matching investment in the provision of treatment
facilities in the community, prisoners who are assessed and released will
fall into a vacuum.

Shalini Gidoomal, Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust, London SW1