A government initiative to get criminals on drugs to kick the habit was "more like a get out of jail free card" than a rehabilitation programme, the Commons public accounts committee says in a report released today.

It says that only 25% of those who accept the rehabilitation programme ever complete it - with wide variations across the country.
The expansion of drug treatment orders instead of sending people to prison is a major plank of the Conservatives' anti-crime manifesto for the next election. The findings of the committee of MPs chaired by Tory MP Edward Leigh, suggests that the scheme needs major revisions if it is to be successful.