Drugs tsar Keith Hellawell will be among representatives meeting to discuss a drug referral scheme pioneered in Kirklees.

The UK anti-drugs co-ordinator and former West Yorkshire Chief Constable will be joining with representatives from health authorities, drug agencies and police forces from around Britain at a one-day conference held at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium.

Dewsbury MP Ann Taylor will also attend.

The event will examine the work of the Kirklees Drug Arrest Referral Scheme - which was set up 18 months ago to help drug addicts crack their habits.

Under the project, users can be referred for treatment with a drugs agency when arrested for possession of drugs.

Louise Wiehl, senior development officer for the West Yorkshire Drugs Prevention Team, said: "There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the Kirklees project, which has already been copied in other parts of the country, including London.

"Being arrested is a traumatic time for most people and it gives us a chance to make them look at their addiction and how it is affecting their lives and family.

"If drug users are simply given a fine in court, they will probably not have looked at their drug use."

The Kirklees Drug Arrest Referral Scheme, which treated 500 people in its first year, involves the collaboration of police, Kirklees Council, the probation service, health agencies and the Unit 51 drugs agency.

Detective Constable Alan Laurie, Kirklees Drugs Liaison Officer, said almost two-thirds of people referred had previously committed criminal offences.

"It is estimated that up to 60 per cent of property crime is linked to drugs so here we have a real opportunity to impact on crime levels."

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