Hardcore Essex criminals who offend to feed their habit are to be targeted with tough American-style drugs courts.

The initiative is being unveiled by Whitehall's drugs tsar Keith Hellawell in Danbury, near Chelmsford, on Monday.

In a speech to Essex judges, magistrates, probation officers and other court agencies, he will explain the new drug treatment and testing orders (DTTO) which can be meted out to offenders.

Courts will be able to impose DTTOs on criminals who repeatedly carry out offences like theft and burglary because of their drugs habit.

This new weapon in the war against drugs has already proved a success in America and in a pilot project in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The use of the DTTOs will begin in Essex and around the country in October.

If the probation service feels someone who fits the criteria would benefit from the programme, they are referred into the "drugs courts" system.

That includes regular and random drugs testing of offenders, counselling and medical care.

Although it is down to the courts how the project is carried out, it is envisaged separate courts will be set aside to deal exclusively with these drugs offenders.

The magistrates in the specialist court will build up a wider knowledge and understanding of the problem and the offenders who appear before them.

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