A drugs worker is due to meet Tony Blair to reveal his views on how to tackle addictions which lead to crime.

Ian Swift is an arrest referral worker at Basildon police who meets everyone arrested by officers to see if they have problems with drugs or alcohol.

He provides people with information on how to treat their addiction and refer them to the local Community Drug and Alcohol Service (CDAS) in an effort to break the cycle of drug-related crime.

Off to Downing Street : Basildon police arrest referral worker Ian Swift is due to meet Tony Blair Picture: DAVE HENDERSON

Mr Swift and two colleagues were invited by the Prime Minister and his wife Cherie to a meeting at Downing Street today.

He said: "It's come as a pleasant surprise to be honest and I'm quite proud to be getting the chance to meet Mr Blair.

"I've got to say a lot of the credit for our success in Basildon has to go down to my colleagues at the CDAS.

"I have the initial contact with the people arrested but the people at CDAS are the ones who carry on the treatment."

Mr Swift sees nearly 150 people a month and also advises on ways to stop people harming themselves.

Although he is pleased with the success of the programme, he believes there is still room for improvement.

He said: "My message to Tony Blair will be more needs to be done to look at the people with drug problems aged between 21 and 30.

"That is the age at which users begin to realise they have a problem and might need help.

"It's also the age they might start to have children and that brings out a whole host of other issues.

"Also, I can't understand why a county the size of Essex still doesn't have a rehabilitation unit in it. That, to me, isn't practical."

Published Monday, June 9, 2003

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