Swindon and Wiltshire's police and crime commissioner has spoken about the importance of services which support prisoners on early release.

Philip Wilkinson visited Wiltshire drug and alcohol rehabilitation service, Connect, which provides support to recently released prisoners under the SDS 40 scheme.

Connect offers treatment for those living with alcohol or drug addiction, providing one-to-one support and outreach services in prisons, courts, and police custody.

The organisation also works closely with individuals involved in substance use-related crime, offering group work provision, access to medical interventions, inpatient detoxes and residential rehabilitation, peer mentor support, and more.

Mr Wilkinson said: "It is vitally important my office works with partners such as local authorities to ensure services in Wiltshire have the money they need to provide the best possible support for people living with addictions, and specifically being released from prisons, to get them back on the right path.

"Services like Connect are especially important when it comes to prisoners on early release as despite the national issues with prison capacity, the priority will always be keeping our communities, and those most vulnerable, safe.

"This is a prime example of a service that works to reduce reoffending and break the cycle of criminality by providing the appropriate treatment and development plans for re-entering society, which directly delivers priority four of my Police and Crime Plan."

The service, led by Turning Point in partnership with Developing Health and Independence, Julian House, and The Nelson Trust, is jointly funded by Wiltshire Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which makes an annual contribution of £105,995.

The services said it "strikes a balance between early intervention, education, and treatment, offering free, flexible, person-centred support to Wiltshire residents of all ages."

Alex Cattelona, criminal justice, engagement, and prevention manager at Connect, knows the importance of the service first hand, having overcome his own drug addiction with the help of the charity 15 years ago.

He said: "I’m very open around my background and the fact that I used to be a heavy drugs user years ago, as that has led me to where I am today.

"At Connect, we believe that everybody has the capacity for change, and we will continue to utilise funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Wiltshire Council to offer the best support for those in need."