Nearly 3,000 people have been arrested as part of a police drugs crackdown in Bristol, new figures have revealed. The government funded Project ADDER operates nationally to stop drug supply and to divert people who need it towards support and recovery for drug addiction.
Avon and Somerset Police recently marked the two-year anniversary of Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery), a program aimed at addressing drug addiction and tackling supply in the hardest hit local authority areas across England and Wales. Police work to stem the flow of dugs while working to signpost vulnerable people into treatment and recovery for their addiction.
The project has been running in Bristol since April 2021 and is funded by the government. New figures show the force made 2,904 arrests in funded areas during the last two years, with the force now testing people who are arrested for drug crimes.
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These arrests include:
- 889 arrests for drug supply offences
- 1139 arrests for drug possession offences
- 876 arrests for weapons offences
Avon and Somerset Police also carried out 819 drugs tests which resulted in 465 people being offered support for drug and addiction treatment services. 350 weapons were also seized.
Inspector Tom Gent, ADDER Lead at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Project ADDER has seen some fantastic results so far in Bristol, not only in relentlessly pursuing those who are intent on bringing drug crime and harm into our communities, but also in seeking to provide early intervention and diversion for those who are vulnerable to their effects.
“From carrying out our ADDER work, we’ve been able to work with various partners and charities to offer support and alternative pathways to prevent people from getting involved with drugs and drug-related crime. Just from taking this more holistic approach, I hope that it demonstrates the caring side of policing as well as the side that seeks to disrupt perpetrators and criminals from acting in our area.”
Nationally, the program has resulted in more than 25,000 arrests, with £9.8 million of cash seized. Officers have made 2,729 interventions against organised criminal gangs which have disrupted county lines networks and criminal operations maintained through intimidation, violence and exploitation of local people – which dealers seek to profit from.
Combating Drugs Minister Chris Philp said: “These results show Project ADDER is having a significant impact. This Home Office funding has been brought together with funding for treatment and recovery to help clamp down on the gangs in the hardest hit local authorities, who don’t care about the fatal consequences of the substances in the drugs they are selling.
“Ridding streets of dangerous drugs is only one part of Project ADDER. Vulnerable people are supported by tailored programmes to coax them away from addictive substances. Every circumstance is different but under Project ADDER more people in these local authorities are getting the vital support they need.”
As well as interrupting criminal activity, Project ADDER also aims at getting help and treatment to vulnerable people who need it most. 4,966 people in treatment for drug-use have also benefited from Project ADDER, while 7,672 Naloxone kits, which reverses the effects of potentially fatal opioid overdoses, have been distributed to keep users safe outside of treatment services.
£59 million of central government funding supports each Project ADDER foster partnerships between local councils, the police and charities to identify and encourage people in the community into treatment. Once there, drug users can receive therapy and drug rehabilitation.
Health Minister Neil O’Brien said: “Our trail-blazing response to combating drug-use is working, and I’m pleased to see the data shows communities are safer thanks to a combination of tough law enforcement and more treatment and recovery services.
“However, we must not lose momentum. Our 10-year drug strategy is driving up drug treatment and we are investing £532 million to tackle addiction. By the end of the parliament, local authority funding for treatment will have grown by 40% compared to 2020.”
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