MINISTER PLEDGES CASH TO BREAK LINK BETWEEN CRACK AND CRIME

Thirty-seven of the country's worst crack cocaine blackspots are to be
given specially tailored government funding to help existing addicts and
prevent young people from taking the class A drug.

Drugs minister Bob Ainsworth announced the target areas, which include
London, Manchester and Bristol, during a visit to a drugs programme centre
in Ladbroke Grove, west London. Mr Ainsworth added that his own area of
Coventry was among those selected.

Many of the 37 communities have problems with acquisitive crime, including
burglary and muggings, linked to the use of crack.

Other indicators used for the selection of the areas were the number of
arrested people testing positive for crack, the among of crack seized and
the presence of risk indicators, including prostitution.

Mr Ainsworth said: "The same levels of crack use are not found nationwide
and some communities are suffering far more than others. People living in
the areas we identified already know crack is a problem in their community
and know only too well the crime that crack brings with it.

"Crack addicts live chaotic lifestyles, they commit crimes and crackhouses
bring fear and degradation to neighbourhoods." Mr Ainsworth said he hoped
that the national crack action plan would help reduce the levels of street
and gun crime.

Visiting the Blenheim Project, which runs a specialist day treatment
programme for crack users, he observed a demonstration of an acupuncture
session - used at the centre as a holistic approach to helping addicts. He
met staff and chatted to two recovering users about their progress.

Social care charity Turning Point welcomed the government's move but said
that more money was needed to tackle the problem.

The charity's chief executive, Lord Adebowale, said: "As a social care
organisation, Turning Point welcomes the government's recognition of the
corrosive effect that crack is having on communities. However we are
concerned that the measures announced today will not be sufficient to deal
with the needs of up to 45,000 users and the families and communities
effected by the damage that crack causes."