Police raid drugs villa
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POLICE raided a rehabilitation centre in St Austell for prolific ex-cons with drink and drug addictions on Thursday morning and arrested two inmates after conducting a search of the premises.Two men, a 29 and a 25-year-old, were detained at the FreshStart scheme at Belfield in Truro Road on suspicion of credit card fraud offences. The 29-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of possessing a class A drug, thought to be heroin. The substance has been sent away to be forensically tested.
The pair have been placed on police bail pending further enquiries.
The targeted policing team at St Austell Police Station assisted by officers from Liskeard CID, a prolific offender officer from Truro and a drug dog were involved in the swoop at the centre.
Stuart Gibbons, Inspector at St Austell Police Station, said: "Liskeard CID are conducting an ongoing fraud investigation involving the two residents that have been arrested.
"The substance is possibly heroin. We cannot clarify that until it has been confirmed by a forensic test."
The FreshStart project, which promised to reduce the impact of crime and substance misuse on the wider community, has caused controversy since opening in July 2008.
Nearly 100 people attended a public meeting to raise worries that, in fact, crime levels would increase in the area.
Eight inmates have so far been recalled to prison, for either committing criminal offences or breaching their release conditions, and a spate of local shoplifting and other offences has been attributed to residents at the scheme.
Following concerns from councillors over the level of re-offending when the FreshStart scheme opened, The Christian Alliance Housing Association, now trading as Chapter 1, refused to divulge performance information to Restormel Council, despite council taxpayers forking out more than £646,000 for the scheme so far.
Rachel Sanders, operations director, commented in October 2007 before the centre opened that inmates would be "under greater scrutiny than they were in prison".
Rachel Sanders argues it is the nature of the beast that there would be incidents such as this. "It is with some regret that we confirm that police searched the FreshStart St Austell premises and as a result two of our residents were taken into custody," she said.
"At this stage we cannot comment on the individuals concerned, as the matter is now in the hands of the police. However, we can confirm that FreshStart are co-operating fully with the police who are one of the project’s partner agencies.
"As FreshStart is a project which works specifically with prolific offenders, Chapter 1 acknowledges that incidents of this kind can happen from time to time.
"However, as we have always made clear, we have strategies in place to ensure that they are dealt with quickly and effectively. We have an excellent working relationship with the local police, and we are committed to being good neighbours who have the interests of the local community at heart.
"All our residents understand that FreshStart St Austell does not tolerate criminal behaviour, nor the presence of alcohol nor illegal drugs on the premises. Any breach of these house rules will be treated very seriously and they will have to face the consequences of their actions. Whatever the outcome of this police investigation, the residents involved will have their tenancy agreements reviewed."
Inspector Stuart Gibbons of St Austell police said: "It is important is that we take a robust stance to any criminal behaviour when we have got sufficient evidence to arrest then we will act on that information and secure a conviction. It also sends out a clear message to the other residents at the establishment.
"There are still concerns we have got such an establishment in the town. We put in a drugs dog on a regular basis to deter residents from taking drugs at the establishment."
Phase two of the FreshStart project to open move-on accommodation on the site is due to be completed shortly, which has heightened locals' fears criminal offences will increase in the area.
