(Kingston upon Hull
North) (Lab): I agree exactly with my right hon. Friend,
but does she think that when the Government transferred that
responsibility to local authorities, they missed a trick by not
making it clear that Police and Crime Commissioners and
representatives from the criminal justice system should sit on
health and wellbeing boards, so that they could provide input on
drug and alcohol treatment services?
Ms (Hackney North and Stoke
Newington) (Lab): My hon. Friend is exactly right,
because the purpose of transferring responsibility to local
authorities was that they should bring together all the
stakeholders, including Police and Crime Commissioners and the
local police...
(Stoke-on-Trent South)
(Con):...Far too many ordinary people in my constituency
have felt the impacts of drug use and told me they do not feel
safe in our communities. I will be working with Staffordshire
police and , our police and crime
commissioner, to ensure that we continue to see drug use decline
and we act against the associated crimes. Much progress is being
made by local partners and communities; putting in place a public
space protection order in Longton has made a big difference. I
have particularly seen the fantastic work put in by volunteers
such as Street Chaplains locally in my constituency. Significant
work has been done to help ensure people feel safe and welcome
when visiting the town centre, and in directing people who need
help to get the right support.
(High Peak)
(Lab):...The associated antisocial behaviour from
drug and alcohol abuse in our towns and cities is affecting the
quality of life of all our residents, shoppers and retailers. No
one agency is able to tackle this problem alone, so they feel
they have nowhere to turn. Derbyshire police and crime
commissioner is leading multi-agency working of enforcement
agencies, local authorities, businesses and voluntary
organisations, so they are working in partnership. There have
been positive outcomes already, and all sectors will benefit from
the work they do. Drug services have joined up with those
delivering alcohol, mental health and homelessness services, and
have welcomed the intervention by the PCC, who has helped to set
up specialist drugs workers in a local charity, with financial
contributions from partner agencies, and soon from local
businesses as well...
