A FORWARD-thinking pilot project aimed at putting adults arrested for alcohol related issues on the road to recovery has been hailed as a “great success”.

Cumbria Police has praised its Alcohol Arrest Referral Scheme, run in partnership with the Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI), after it helped 450 people in six months.It is one of only eight Home Office funded pilot schemes in the country.

Chief Inspector Steve Halliday, Cumbria Constabulary’s lead for the Alcohol Arrest Referral Scheme, said: “The aim is for people to realise the part alcohol had to play in their arrest and get them to think again their drinking behaviour and break the cycle of offending.“ Arrested people can voluntarily speak to a referral worker or an an appointment can be enforced as part of bail or caution conditions.

One female client in her twenties was referred to the scheme following several arrests where alcohol was a factor, and with the support of an alcohol worker she successfully completed a detoxification programme with Cumbria Drug and Alcohol Service and has subsequently enrolled on a Prince’s Trust programme.

Clare Sinclair, CRI services manager, said: “It’s great that there is now an opportunity for individuals in Cumbria to address the offending behaviour issues as well as the health and social implications caused by their problematic drinking behaviour.”