Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker will captain a Ministerial football team in a five-a-side National Tackling Drugs Day match in south London. As the whistle blows, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker will team up with Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Andy Burnham, Minister of State at the Department of Health, to open the 2007 search for unsung local heroes in the drug sector at a five-a-side match against Dads Against Drugs and Positive Futures.
Anyone will be able to nominate the drug worker and team of the year who have made a real difference by reducing the harm caused by drugs. Successful nominees will receive £10,000 to support their local project.
National Tackling Drugs Day will witness many events across the country to celebrate the unsung work that reduces drug misuse. Ministers from across Government will be out and about visiting local drugs projects, in addition to:
- a concert will be held in Gateshead where a local musician will perform a song he has written about drug addiction; and
- a giant mobile advertising hoarding is being driven round the streets of Wigan and Leigh, highlighting drug treatment services.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"Tackling drugs has been one of this Government's priorities. I recognise there is no easy way to tackle drug misuse, but we do so in large part through the commitment and dedication of front line staff. Today is all about the celebration of local success - recognising the hard work undertaken across the country in the areas of enforcement, education and treatment.
"Today also marks the fourth anniversary of FRANK, a key plank of our education and I am delighted to announce its highest ever levels of awareness - 83 per cent of young people are aware of FRANK and over 1,350 calls are made to the helpline each day.
"We have backed our drug strategy of enforcement, education and treatment with unparalleled investment: over £9 billion since 2001/02. In that time drug misuse has fallen by 16 per cent, while since the onset of the Drugs Intervention Programme recorded acquisitive crime - to which drug-related crime makes a significant contribution - has fallen by 20 per cent.
"We will shortly consult on our drug strategy but we are proud of our record in recent years."
Secretary of State for Education and Skills Alan Johnson said:
"Although football has always been a passion of mine, it is a while since I donned a football strip. But there can be no better reason to limber up again than to join the fight against drugs. Drugs blight lives and destroy potential, numbing bright inquisitive minds.
Parenthood is a blessing, but it also brings with it challenges and fears - one of the greatest of which is protecting your children from the world of drugs.
"The Government has done much to tackle the drug culture, but it is up to us all to take a stand and stamp it out."
Chief Constable Tim Hollis, Chair of the Association of Chief Police Officers - Drugs, said:
"Whilst recognising the need for an open and well informed debate on how to reduce the overall harm presented by illegal drugs to our local communities, the Police Service remains committed to tackling criminals who deal in drugs in a robust manner and we appreciate the support we received from Ministers to that end.
We do accept that long term change must be based on sound partnership working and we welcome the wide range of initiatives being taken on this day which reflects a joint commitment to making our communities safer from the harms of illegal drug use in all its forms."
Vivienne Evans, Chief Executive of Adfam said:
"Adfam is the only national charity working on behalf of families affected by drug misuse. We see and hear first hand the devastating impact that drugs have on individuals, families and communities.
"But, we also see the commitment, fortitude and dedication of people working to support families and the difference they can make. The people doing this work truly are unsung heroes and I am delighted to support the Home Office's Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards, which honour and reward the amazing work being done to rebuild families and futures."
Gary Stannett, Director of the Positive Futures programme, said:
"Today's event shows the power sport has to bring people together to tackle problems that affect young people. Positive Futures works with thousands of young people to help them understand the dangers of drugs and alcohol by supporting them back into education, training and employment."
The Government launched the 10 year drug strategy in 1998 and will shortly consult on the future of tackling drugs to change lives.
