News & Events

ALCOHOL DIVERSION SCHEME IS HUGE SUCCESS

Donald Watt, chairman of Fife Alcohol Support Service (FASS) today announced the huge success of the Alcohol Diversion Scheme run by FASS, one of Scotland’s leading agencies dealing with alcohol-related problems. The scheme tackles alcohol related anti-social behavior, and was launched in the Kirkcaldy policing area last July by Kenny MacAskill MSP, Justice Minister with the Scottish Government.

“It’s a brand new package,” said Mr Watt, “and highly innovative. We at FASS were more than delighted to be selected as the lead agency for this project, and it is hugely gratifying for all concerned to see the excellent results obtained.
The Fife Alcohol & Drug Partnership is now funding the scheme and it will be rolled out across the whole of Fife in September.”

Jim Bett, Service Manager at Fife Alcohol Support Service (FASS) was also very positive about the success of the scheme. “We experienced a level of demand greater than we anticipated. The uptake was over 30% which we believe is a very considerable success rate. I would also like to pay tribute to all the FASS staff involved who did a fantastic job over the original 6-month trial period.”

Jim also added his thanks to NHS Fife Equally Well, The University of St Andrews and Fife Constabulary who all proved to be hugely supportive to FASS and were an integral part of this success.

FASS runs the scheme in close co-operation with Fife Constabulary and offers individuals in receipt of a Fixed Penalty Notice an opportunity to participate in an alcohol education session instead of paying a £40 fine.

The session offers participants a chance to learn how to control binge drinking, improve personal safety and reduce their chances of offending or even becoming a victim of crime. It has been particularly popular with the 18 to 30 age group.

Alcohol Diversion Scheme to expand Fife wide!

In September, Fife Constabulary, working closely with partners in the NHS, FASS (Fife Alcohol Support Services and St Andrews University, will be taking the Alcohol Diversion Scheme forcewide to benefit communities across the region.

In July 2009 Fife Constabulary and FASS (Fife Alcohol Support Services) piloted the alcohol diversion scheme in the Kirkcaldy area over a period of six months.  The Alcohol Diversion Scheme is based around early intervention and is aimed at addressing binge drinking and associated anti-social behaviour. 

Through the fixed penalty process, police identified offenders and offered the opportunity to learn more about the dangers and consequences of alcohol misuse. Those who attended the scheme had their £40 fixed penalty ticket waived. During the 6-month-period 190 people were referred to FASS with 60 people ultimately attending courses. The pilot was evaluated by St Andrews University and hailed a success by all involved.

Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing MSP said: "I congratulate Fife on the success of the Alcohol Diversion pilot.  This brief intervention allows a key group the opportunity to find out more about the dangers and consequences of their alcohol misuse and shows them ways in which they can change their behaviour.   
 Alcohol misuse is costing Scotland dearly. We need to rebalance Scotland's relationship with alcohol and enable people to make more positive choices about their alcohol use.  We know there are no quick fixes, which is why we set out a package of measures in our Alcohol Framework last year.   
If we work together with shared objectives we can make a real difference to the health of the people of Scotland, to our economy and to our communities."

Supt Alexander Duncan Head of Community Safety and Crime Reduction commented: " There is a clear link between alcohol consumption and some types of anti-social behaviour. The Fife alcohol diversion early intervention scheme was initiated to address the growing problem of alcohol related antisocial behaviour and the commission of minor crimes while an offender is under the influence of alcohol. One of Fife Constabulary's Policing Plan commitments is to develop initiatives to tackle alcohol abuse so that we can make the communities of Fife more safe for people to live in, visit and socialise."

Jim Bett, Service Manager at Fife Alcohol Support Service (FASS) was also very positive about the success of the scheme saying: " We experienced a level of demand greater than we anticipated. The uptake was over 30%, which we believe is a very considerable success rate. I would also like to pay tribute to all the FASS staff involved who did a fantastic job over the original 6-month trial period."