17/04/2008

Drug Addicts To Get Football Tickets As 'Incentive'

Drug addicts are to be given free tickets to Premiership football matches as part of a rehabilitation scheme.

Repeat offenders will be accompanied to Newcastle United games by their support workers as an "incentive" to kick the habit.

Drug and Alcohol Action Teams (DAAT) throughout the North East of England have received four season tickets from the club, which will include entry to sought-after games like this weekend's Newcastle United vs Sunderland derby.

Community workers have said the scheme would help addicts to reintegrate into society, and tickets will only be given only to those who are showing "genuine commitment" to beat their addictions.

However, there has been widespread criticism about the scheme, which has been viewed as "rewarding bad behaviour".

North East MEP Martin Callanan questioned the validity of the scheme, saying: "What about people who didn't get into trouble in the first place, who live their lives, work hard and pay their taxes?

"It's like these schemes the local authorities come up with to send young criminals on outward bound course."

Mr Callanan concluded: "It's rewarding bad behaviour when we should be rewarding well-behaved youngsters."

(JM)

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