Sentencing Policy
Opposition Day — [14th Allotted Day]
9:17 pm
Madeleine Moon (PPS (Jim Knight, Minister of State), Department for Children, Schools and Families; Bridgend, Labour)
Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that this Government have done more than any other to help support people who have problems not only with drugs but with alcohol? I appreciate that there are not enough services in my constituency, but they are there and we are starting to tackle the problems faced by people with drug and alcohol problems who go on to commit crimes.
Annotations
Dee Speers
Posted on 18 Jun 2008 12:14 pm (Report this annotation)
"Starting to tackle the problems" is way too late!
There must be some recognition that drugs and alcohol are often used to self-medicate other areas of life where accessing help can be very difficult. Whether through mental distress and the stigma often attached which causes many more problems than "going on to commit crime" This 'going on' is more often related to the perceived physical need attached to substance misuse and the need to finance same. Maybe Government initatives such as 24 hr Drinking need to be highlighted as definately not a way of "tackling the problem". 24 Hr drinking was always available if that is what was sought but introducing laws which encourage "Happy Hours" particularly in student areas is the wrong message nationwide.
The 'root causes' needs addressing not just the surface I feel.
Ms Moon with respect, " I appreciate not enough services in my constrituancy" must therefore be an invitation to really look in depth at what is going on and use SMARTER thinking. aka Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound, Evalauate and Review.
All must be used to support each other and if the question is related to excess in drug use then that is the Specific, followed by how many involved = Measurable, is this possible to look at in depth, if yes what do we need, if no what else can we do = Achievable. Is this the correct thinking around the problem = Realistic. When will we start/complete this? How long should each component take? = Time Bound. then and most importantly Evaluate (what has taken place on a regular basis) and Review where necessary. Therefore SMARTER thinking.
Alix Cull
Posted on 18 Jun 2008 6:46 pm (Report this annotation)
It has now been acknowledged that there are a large number of mentally ill people in prison. They should not have been there in the first place, had the Government ensured that NHS treatment and care were adequately available. With regard to drug addiction including alcoholism, these people should not be in prison, but the suppliers of the drugs and the entry into the country of the first line dealers should have been dealt with many years ago.Their moements hould be restricted, whether in prison, or by returning to their country of Origin, or soome more imaginative approach. Their monies should be confiscated. Checks at all the entry points should be stricter and more thorough.
The pentalties for supplying drugs , and producing drugs should have been addressed a long time ago. The penalties for drug use and drug dealing should be much heavier for adults of over ?21 years. Better education and supervision be available for young and vulnerable people who become couriers and themselves users. The young who fall foul of the system should not be in hospital, but in particular rehabilitation units, and the parents or carers be involved in their rehabilitation and care. Unfortunately some of the parents are themelves drug addicts or alcoholics. Some provision for dealing with this problem should be a priority in the new Children and Young peoples Act.
I agree with Dee Speers we need smarter thinking.