A SCHEME helping drug users stay on the straight and narrow has helped reduce crime, according to members of the new Hertfordshire Drug Interventions Programme.

The programme worked with 21 drug misuers in the Three Rivers District in the first quarter of the year.

It provided support and therapeutic treatment in a bid to stop users commiting crime to fund their habit.

The team estimates that over an eight week period, the amount of money acquired through criminal activity by one class A drug user to fund their habit could be as high as £56,000.

The scheme has the backing of Three Rivers District Council and the other organisations in the Three Rivers Community Safety Partnership.

Vicki Reid, development manager of the drug interventions programme, said: "The programme has been operating across the county since April 2005.

"Since then, we have developed a fully integrated multi-agency team with over 40 team members from Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Probation Service, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust, Crime Reduction initiatives and Shelter."

Three Rivers District Council portfolio holder for community safety, Councillor Roger Seabourne, said: "Three Rivers has a very low crime rate and the excellent work of the Drug Interventions Programme has our full backing.

"By helping people to break their drug misuse habit the team are protecting all of us by stopping one of the causes of crime. Illegal drug use in Three Rivers remains low, but this excellent programme is helping to reduce it even further."

For further information on the Hertfordshire Drug Interventions Programme, telephone 0800 652 3169.