By Nick Griffiths Crime Reporter

Last updated 09:20, Saturday, 28 June 2008

A PLAN to tackle substance abuse in Cumbria is now focusing more clearly on alcohol, with police admitting drink is linked to a large amount of violent crime.

Meeting: Neil Rhodes

The Cumbria Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) is placing a higher priority on problems with booze after previously concentrating on drugs.

County police chiefs revealed the switch as a new report said the number of Cumbrians who ended up in hospital due to drink-related illnesses was 25 per cent higher than the national average.

Health profiles released by the Government pinpointed Carlisle and west Cumbria as particular hotspots for boozers taking up hospital beds.

Assistant Chief Constable Neil Rhodes spoke about the DAAT plan at a meeting of Cumbria Police Authority, the body overseeing the county’s police force.

He said: “Generally, it is becoming far more focussed on the perils of alcohol.

“In the past it has been focussed almost exclusively on drugs. There is a new direction.

“We recognise that alcohol underpins a lot of the problems we have in relation to violent crime.

“Domestic abuse and violence always has strong themes of alcohol running through it.

“If we are going to address offenders by any other means than enforcement, we need partner agencies (to be involved). Treatment is something DAAT is very good at.”

Police Authority chairman Reg Watson said extra duty on super-strength brands could help tackle the problem. They should start taxing by alcohol strength,” he told the meeting.

“If they did that they would solve an awful lot of problems. Simply add the amount the higher they go with the alcohol content.”

The health report said binge drinking was higher than average in Carlisle, Copeland, Allerdale and Eden.

It also said the prospects for a long and healthy life in parts of the county were not as good as in the rest of the UK.

DAAT is a partnership that plans how to tackle substance abuse.

It involves organisations including police, Cumbria County Council, the probation service and health workers.

ngriffiths@cngroup.co.uk