Northumberland police project helps offenders break cycle of drugs and crime
A police project trialed in Northumberland has seen young men turn their lives around after being stuck in a cycle of drug abuse and offending.
“I would have been dead by Christmas, probably.”
Last summer, this was the reality for two young men. Fast forward 12 months and they are no longer taking drugs, living in safe accommodation, and reconnecting with family.
It’s, in large part, thanks to multi-agency Project Horizon, which supports individuals who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime, anti-social behaviour and demand on public services.
Traditional approaches often see agencies working with the same individuals separately, addressing only part of the problem.
National changes to sentencing and prison capacity also mean that more offenders are likely to be managed within communities rather than through longer periods of imprisonment.
Project Horizon brings together Northumbria Police, Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Northumberland County Council and partners from housing, probation, substance misuse services and other agencies to co-ordinate a collective response rather than focusing solely on enforcement.
It’s designed to reduce reoffending, improve community safety, protect vulnerable individuals and reduce repeat demand across all agencies.
First trialled in Northumberland, the early successes are promising.
Project lead, Inspector Wayne Daniels of Northumbria Police, said: “We cannot arrest our way out of every problem. Long-term change requires genuine partnership working and co-ordinated support alongside robust enforcement.
“The project aims to move away from agencies responding to incidents in isolation.
“Instead, it looks to create a shared understanding of individuals, risks and opportunities for intervention.”
Insp Daniels continued: “Since its introduction, Project Horizon has delivered a number of positive outcomes.
“A number of individuals have engaged with support services they were previously not accessing, while enforcement and housing interventions have helped disrupt offending behaviour and improve community safety.
“Alongside individual success stories, Project Horizon is helping to build a more sustainable model for managing repeat offenders.
“This, in turn, will help reduce long-term demand across policing and partner organisations – and create a safer community for all.”
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Project Horizon is helping some of our most vulnerable people in Northumberland to rebuild their lives through early intervention, practical support and partnership working, therefore reducing re-offending and making our communities safer.
“I have seen this fantastic project in action, met the dedicated team behind it, and heard directly from people like these two young men whose lives have been changed through its support.
"By building trust and working together, our Violence Reduction Unit and partners are helping individuals make positive, lasting changes and create better futures for themselves.
“It really is a great example of how partnership working can transform lives, strengthen communities and reduce long-term demand on public services and I couldn’t be more supportive of the Force’s plans to explore rolling it out force-wide so we can build on its success further.”
Cllr Gordon Stewart, Cabinet Member for Public Safety at Northumberland County Council, said: "Project Horizon is already making a positive impact across Northumberland, supporting people to build resilience, improve their wellbeing, and lead more stable and independent lives.
"We are proud of what has been achieved so far and remain committed to strengthening this partnership to help make a difference to more Northumberland residents in the future."