Lambourn junction hosted over 30 stakeholder organisations in the Memorial hall on Monday to discuss issues relating to drug and substance abuse in the Valley of the Racehorse. Jason Kew, ex chief inspector with the Thames Valley Police and now heading drugs awareness for Berkshire Council, gave the keynote introduction. The emphasis of the workshop was on awareness and collaboration. Many of the organisations who attended were not aware of some of the others and everyone agreed that joining up efforts is a more effective way to address the issue.
Education rather than enforcement was another theme which emerged. It became very clear that justy focusing on drug dealers is a very short term measure with the ones caught being replaced by others in a matter of days.
Organisations who attended included Via, West Berkshire Council, Thames Valley Police, The Lambourn Surgery, Lambourn School, The Lambourn Junction, representatives from the racing industry, the church, Berkshire Drugs Awareness and many more.
