Treatment services, crime and anti-social behaviour
RISE is part of a wider system of support involving:
- Ealing Council
- NHS services
- homelessness services
- probation services
- the Metropolitan Police
While some people accessing treatment may on occasion be involved in anti-social behaviour or criminal activity, these issues often pre-date their engagement with treatment services.
The purpose of treatment is to help address the underlying causes of these behaviours and reduce the risk of future offending.
Local partners recognise that crime and anti-social behaviour in Southall are influenced by a range of complex factors, including homelessness, substance dependency, wider social challenges and the actions of a relatively small number of repeat offenders.
Drug and alcohol treatment services form part of the response to these challenges by supporting people to reduce harmful behaviours, improve their wellbeing and achieve long-term recovery.
Ealing Council and the police work closely in reviewing intelligence on crime and anti-social behaviour trends. During the surge of police and council activity in Southall in summer 2026, the majority of individuals identified as involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour had no link to services delivered by RISE.
There is no national evidence that opening a drug and alcohol treatment service causes an increase in crime or anti-social behaviour in the surrounding area.
National studies of people receiving community drug and alcohol treatment have consistently found reductions in offending after treatment begins.
A joint study by Public Health England and the Ministry of Justice examined more than 130,000 people entering community drug and alcohol treatment in England. Among those who had offended before treatment, recorded offences fell by 33% in the 2 years after treatment started, and the number of people reoffending also fell significantly. Read more on the impact of community-based drug and alcohol treatment on reoffending (GOV.UK)
Separate research by the National Treatment Agency examined almost 20,000 recent offenders entering treatment. It found that convictions for drug-related offences fell by 26% after treatment began. Among people who successfully completed treatment and did not return to treatment, convictions fell by 61%. Read more about the impact of treatment on reconviction for drug-related offences (Drug and Alcohol Findings)
More recent analysis published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities looked at people entering community drug and alcohol treatment between 2013 and 2023. It found that people who successfully completed treatment, or remained engaged with treatment, were less likely to reoffend than those who did not complete treatment. Read more on the effect of drug and alcohol treatment on reoffending (GOV.UK)
National research therefore indicates that drug and alcohol treatment services are associated with reductions in offending and reoffending over time.
Treatment helps reduce demand for illegal drugs by supporting people to:
- reduce or stop their drug use
- improve their health
- rebuild relationships
- access housing
- move towards employment or training
- continue their recovery
Further information: Around Ealing article: Crackdown operation leads to arrests and weapons being seized