Drug and alcohol court heading to Hamilton after successful Auckland trial

Hamilton based Labour MP Jamie Strange and Justice Minister Andrew Little at the announcement of the Drug and Alcohol court. Photo / Supplied

A revolutionary new court to combat drug and alcohol abuse will operate in Hamilton to fight the cycle of reoffending.

Justice Minister Andrew Little announced the new court for Hamilton following the success of two trial courts in Auckland.

"The Government is looking to turn around the long-term challenges of criminal justice by taking a new approach to break the cycle of offending to ensure there are fewer victims of crime," Mr Little said.

"We will make the pilot Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) courts in Auckland and Waitakere permanent immediately, and to immediately fund a new AODT court in Hamilton because of the impact these courts have on reducing offending.

"Within two years, AODT Court participants are 23 per cent less likely to reoffend for any offence, 35 per cent less likely to reoffend for a serious offence, and 25 per cent less likely to be imprisoned because of their reoffending."

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate has welcomed the plans.

"Punishing people whose offending is driven by alcohol and drug dependency, without tackling the underlying issue, doesn't make sense to me," Mrs Southgate said.

"We need to break the cycle of offending and we have to find better, more cost-effective ways to change behaviour.

The AODT concept used elsewhere has seen a significant drop in reoffending rates and that's something I want for our city," Mrs Southgate said.

The Hamilton AODT court follows two pilot courts in Auckland and Waitakere which were established in 2012.

Mrs Southgate said there had been "sustained and comprehensive public support" for the concept of an AODT court in Hamilton from people working at the coal-face, the judiciary, researchers and recovering addicts.

"This is a good example of the region speaking with one voice to central government and getting something done. I look forward to more details on the funding announcement to come."

The Waikato Alcohol and Drug Court formation committee has welcomed the announcement.

"Hamilton and the Waikato region has seen a significant increase in drug and drug related crime, while the police, courts and corrections have been processing offenders, reoffending and offending on bail remains high amongst those with high needs and high-risk offenders," the committee said.

"The AODT Court seeks to support those who are committed to making fundamental life changes to break the cycle of addiction and offending.

"AODT court committee wants to acknowledge former Hamilton mayor Andrew King for his involvement, lobbying ministers, sponsoring papers to the mayoral forum, connecting the committee to funding and providing media commentary over the past 12 months, he has shown tremendous support to establishing an AODT court in Hamilton."

Hamilton based Labour MP Jamie Strange said, "We need to change the course of our criminal justice system to ensure less offending, less reoffending, and fewer victims of crime who are better supported. Thirty years of locking more people up for longer has not changed re-offending rates nor made communities safer."

"A number of local people and groups have been lobbying for a drug and alcohol court in Hamilton over the past 12-months; a sign on the growing growing support in our region.

"There is strong organisation on the ground — we are ready to roll this out in Hamilton."