Treating drug users to cost £100m

The cost of treating London's army of crack and heroin users is set to soar above £100million a year, the Government revealed today.

Boroughs will receive big increases in funding for programmes to tackle hard drugs use, which is linked to many of the capital's robberies and thefts.

The money will go on new residential treatment centres for addicts, more drugs workers, needle exchanges and clinics prescribing heroin substitute methadone to addicts living in the community.

Health Secretary John Reid announced the move at Labour's conference in Brighton. He said annual funding to drug action teams would reach £116 million in London and £478 million nationwide by 2007 - equivalent to £20 per taxpayer.

The boroughs with the biggest programmes are Lambeth, receiving £7.6 million a year by 2007; Newham, £7.2 million; and Southwark, £7.1 million. London has an estimated 45,000 crack addicts, many spending £500 a week on their habit. Around half also use heroin. The funding boost for drug treatment was a central plank of Labour measures aimed at tackling addiction.

Home Secretary David Blunkett was today announcing a threemonth police campaign to shut down crack houses, starting in January. Forces will use powers to evict tenants and board up premises for six months. Police will gain new powers to test robbery, theft and burglary suspects for heroin and cocaine.