Scant services for offenders on probation who misuse alchohol

Treatment for offenders who misuse alcohol is “scarce”, according to a report  published today by the chief inspector of probation.

The inspection of seven probation areas found alcohol services were “underdeveloped”, even though the number of offenders who misused alcohol was nearly double the number who misused drugs.

Probation officers found it difficult to deliver alcohol treatment requirements set by the courts for offenders with alcohol problems,  due to an absence of service partners in some areas.

The report also highlighted that “little” alcohol treatment existed nationally despite the publication of the government’s alcohol harm reduction strategy in 2004.

By contrast, the government’s drug strategy, published in 1998, had led to a rise in the funding and availability of drug treatment.

Chief inspection of probation Andrew Bridges called for more alcohol treatment services to be made available to help reduce re-offending.