THE work of a Preston group which helps drug users who have been arrested has come in for rare praise from a government body.

The Youth Justice Board visited Drugline, in Union Street, to find out exactly how the centre is run and how it achieves its reknowned success.

And they left impressed. Drugline runs in partnership with the police, and gives offenders arrested for possession of drugs for personal use, a police caution, as long as they agree to get counselling.

Joyce Mossley of the YJB said: "This scheme is the kind of thing the board wants to put into.

"Help like this has an impact on drug users' lives and on the crime they commit to pay for their drugs.

"The service has been very well organised, from giving out information to counselling and treatment.

"It is also incredibly realistic in its aims, not trying to cure people of their addictions in a flash and accepting that drug users will relapse at times."

The service, which often involves Kath Talboys, Kath Shah and Julie McCaughey travelling to police stations and questioning offenders on drug use

Only two per cent of those who have been through the service have been re-arrested for drugs offences.

John Vine, assistant chief constable and chairman of the Lancashire Drugs Action Team, said: "We catch people when they are at their most vulnerable and offering them help."

Kath Talboys said: "Schemes like this used to be treated as Cinderella services.

"Now, local authorities come to us because we are the people with the know-how to deal with young drug users. Our clients are very honest because we don't give out medication or report what they say to other people."

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