BOLTON probation service has been given a Government grant to tackle drug abuse among criminals.

The aim is to get youngsters off drugs, away from crime and into a stable environment.

A survey carried out by the service last year revealed 41 per cent of offenders committed crime to fund a drug habit.

Lidia Kierc, a senior probation officer in Bolton, said: "We spoke to the hardened drug users and those who smoked the occasional cannabis cigarette and realised there was a link which we could try to exploit."

The service has been awarded £46,000 to appoint an officer who will deal specifically with young offenders who are known drug abusers.

The service reckons as many as 500 young offenders who passed through their doors last year were drug dependent to some degree. Just 50 sought help from the Community Drug Team.

Lidia added: "This means 90 per cent of those in need somehow slipped through the net and we're most anxious to stop the gaps in the system." Cash has also been secured from social services and the police to fund the scheme for two years.

Lidia said: "The novel aspect of this scheme is that it's something of an 'in-house' service, because the people we will be working with have to report here and we will have them on hand to work directly with them.

"This scheme actually deals with the problem where it is and taking help directly to the problem with the help of the community drug team."

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