Greater Manchester Probation Trust

Drink Causing Major Trouble in Bury

06 Jul 2009

ALMOST half of the offenders committing crime in Bury have alcohol problems.
Annual statistics published by the Greater Manchester Probation Trust highlight the damage drink causes across the borough.
More than 45 per cent of male and 42 per cent of female offenders in Bury experience alcohol difficulties which are in some ways linked to their offending.

In both cases this is marginally above the Greater Manchester average.
Mohammed Farooq, the probation service's district manager for Bury, said: "The cost of tackling alcohol abuse is high and this puts strains on finite resources.
"Not only is there a direct cost to public agencies, but there is also hidden costs to individuals, families and the wider community.
"This includes the cost of policing alcohol fuelled violence and other crime hotspots, treating victims of alcohol abuse, tackling drink driving and covering drink related fire incidents."
The survey also showed that just less than 38 per cent of domestic abuse in Bury was alcohol related.
A total of 28 per cent of male criminals and 25 per cent female had drug problems; more than 30 per cent of all offenders didn't have settled housing and half lacked employment or training.
Mr Farooq said: "When offenders do not have a settled home it undermines our efforts to deliver offence focused interventions to reduce re-offending."
The survey revealed re-offending had dropped in Bury by 10 per cent in 2008, which makes the borough the most successful district in Greater Manchester.
Mr Farooq said: "Most of the work we do with offenders is through offending behaviour programmes and one-to-one sessions.
"We work proactively with all our local key partners to improve the specialist treatment services for offenders and their families in Bury.
"The fact re-offending has dropped by 10 per cent shows probation is at the heart of the fight against crime in Bury and is working hard to contribute to safer stronger communities and reducing the fear of crime."