Drugs in Boscombe

One of the hottest issues in Boscombe is drug related crime, the effect on the community, and issues around rehab clinics. This week I went along to see the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) to find out more about what they are doing about issues affecting Boscombe West.

The DAAT is a partnership between the several organisations including Health, the Police and the Council.

They recognise the problems caused to residents in Boscombe and highlighted a few of the things they have put in place over the past few years to ease the impact on Boscombe residents.

There is an agreement not to allow any more drug rehab centres in Boscombe, and the closure and movement of two centres means the number of centres has dropped from four to two.

Another issue is that other councils send people to Boscombe for rehab. This can't be stopped directly, but efforts are made to try and fill all the places with local people who need the treatment.

The team is firm in encouraging people to return to their home town, offering travel tickets where needed.

I would be interested to hear views from residents affected by this.