Drug addicts given Premiership football tickets 'to help them recover'

Repeat offenders seeking treatment for their alcohol and drug addictions have gained sought-after tickets to games including this weekend's Newcastle United vs Sunderland derby clash.

Community workers said the incentive helped reintegrate addicts into society.

But the scheme was criticised as being a "reward" for people who should be punished.

The tickets were given by Newcastle United to the Government Office for the North East, which represents central government departments in the region, to be distributed to Drug and Alcohol Action Teams (DAATs) in the region.

The DAATs may then hand the tickets to addicts seeking to tackle their problems - even to criminals classed as "prolific and priority offenders".

A Government Office for the North East spokesman said the tickets were given only to those who had shown a "genuine commitment to living a normal, structured life", and were not a reward.

He said: "As part of their work in the community, for more than ten years Newcastle United Football Club have provided, free of charge and at their instigation, four season tickets to frontline drug support services in the region.

"The tickets are provided on the understanding that they are used, as part of a package of measures, to particularly help young people who have had substance misuse problems, and are making clear progress and showing a genuine commitment to living a normal, structured life.

"The tickets are shared throughout the region via frontline drug support services. Requests are received from key workers for people to use the tickets who are overcoming their previous chaotic lifestyle, and are part of a range of support measures used to divert people away from substance misuse.

"Ticket users are accompanied to matches by their support worker.

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Reward or rehab?: DAAT said the football ticket scheme is designed to reintegrate addicts back into society

"The tickets are not intended for prolific and other priority offenders (PPOs)in particular, but neither is someone ruled out because he or she may be classed, or have been classed, as a PPO.

"Government Office thanks NUFC for this generous gesture that goes a long way towards re-introducing people to a structured way of life."

The Government Office for the North East refused to give exact details of how many tickets had been given to PPOs or to which matches, but said the addicts chosen had their travelling expenses paid.

The criminal justice manager of County Durham DAAT, Eric Suddes, a former chief superintendent of Durham Police, said: "We have to try to get people back into mainstream society; give them the confidence to mix again with ordinary people.

"Giving them a ticket to a football match is a way in which they can be reintegrated and in which they can build up confidence in themselves, which can only be a good thing."

Martin Callanan, Member of the European Parliament for the North East, said: "People in society want to see wrong behaviour punished. I'm not convinced it's a good thing."