Drug addicts who steal to pay for their habit could be denied the chance to choose treatment instead of jail, because money for rehabilitation is drying up.

The budget for drug treatment in Oxfordshire is almost exhausted just seven months into the financial year.

It emerged at a debate at Oxford Town Hall that some city magistrates had stopped putting people on treatment programmes because they believed the money had run out.

Oxford magistrate David Manson, speaking in a personal capacity, said: "It's a heart-breaking situation.

"The last thing we want is to send individuals who are looking for treatment to prison.

"It is under-funded. In the last financial year, we were not able to make orders for the last three or four months."

Rehabilitation of offenders is a key part of the Government's drugs strategy.

Senior Thames Valley Police officers, including Oxford's area commander Chief Supt Dave McWhirter, regard it as fundamental to reducing crime. The probation service has almost met its target of putting 60 people through drugs treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) in 2002-3.

Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team co-ordinator Bill Holman said it was possible addicts might have to go to prison because of the lack of money.

He said: "Money is running out rapidly. If people continue to be sentenced to DTTOs, we will run out well before the end of the financial year."

Mr Holman said it was hoped that extra money, believed to be about £60,000, would be coming under the Home Office's street crime initiative within the next few weeks.

Drugs treatment and testing orders were introduced as a sentencing tool in December 2000 for addicts who burgle, rob and steal to pay for drugs.

Many were in and out of prison, where drugs are readily available, without help to become clean.

Oxfordshire had a budget of £200,000 from the Government for 2002-03 for DTTOs. The money is held by Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team, responsible for drugs policy.

Offenders deemed suitable are recommended by the probation service. The final decision lies with the courts on sentencing.

Next year, the Home Office has a target of 90 offenders placed on DTTOs in the county -- 30 more than present. But it had not announced more money for Oxfordshire.

Mr Holman said sending offenders away on long residential programmes was proving expensive. Next year, more people would be placed on day treatment programmes.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris, the Liberal Democats' health spokesman, said drugs treatment was underfunded.

DTTOs had been designed for the most serious offenders, but magistrates were also placing less prolific criminals on them because there was no treatment alternative, he said.

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