Audit "misses the point"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 28th Sep 2004

Plans to carry out a Crime and Disorder Audit miss the point, says Bradford North Area Panel chair, Councillor David Ward. Speaking before the meeting of the Safer Communities Improvement Committee, he said:

"The biggest single issue facing this district is drugs and criminal activity resulting from the drugs trade. Taking over 12 months to investigate and then another 5 months before any real work is done is not acceptable.

"The Council carried out a scrutiny review of drugs and alcohol misuse in the city which was rejected by Councillors because it was completely inadequate. Where is the improved report that they asked to for by September? It should be on this agenda but it isn't.

"We must stop hiding behind audits and reports and start taking action. We need an honest debate about drugs and alcohol misuse because the present policies are not working.

"The government should establish a Drugs Commission to investigate national policy. Here in Bradford, we must face up to the need to increase resources for treatment programmes and reducing the impact on the public of drug-related crime. Liberal Democrats called for this as long ago as 2001 when we made our response to the Ouseley Report

"Hundreds of families are desperate for help and all the council has to suggest is another set of reports and audits."