OFFICERS from the Community Policing team in Wirral are pioneering a creative Art project as part of a national initiative to divert people away from substance use.

The team is working on the delivery of Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery), a government initiative on drug enforcement.

Constables Diane Park and Emily Scarratt have been visiting hostels on a regular basis and engaging with those receiving treatment, it was during this time that it became apparent that some had a talent for art, which was going unnoticed. 

Over 50 vulnerable people, most of them residents of local hostels on the Wirral, have since embraced the opportunity to create a piece of art with the results now the subject of a new exhibition.

The We’ve Got HeART exhibition will be opened today (Wednesday, February 8) at 2pm by Merseyside's Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, at The Oakland Gallery in New Brighton.

Using art to engage with hard-to-reach people was originally the idea of PC Diane Park and with the support of Inspector Alan McKeon the idea grew.

Insp McKeon and PC Park, both met with the owner of Oakland Contemporary Art Gallery, Dan Davies, and managed to secure his backing, to utilise the Gallery for an exhibition of the work, which will be on show to the public for the next three weeks.

The artwork ranges from drawings to paintings, sculptures, poems, and photography. This exciting opportunity offers the artists a unique opportunity to showcase their work at a venue that is open to the public.

Each piece of art will somewhere within it, contain a heart for a collection entitled ‘We’ve Got HeART’.

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Inspector Susan Stribling, who leads on the project, said: "Although there must be a level of enforcement involved in our fight against drugs, this whole-system approach is about raising awareness of the treatment services available for people to help them overcome their drugs use.

"Referring users into treatment programmes helps to break the business model that drives the illegal drugs trade and therefore helps protect vulnerable people. Merseyside is one of a handful of regions given home Office funding to tackle the illegal drugs trade at all levels.

"We are all very excited to see the event come together and see the varied and vibrant work now on show on the walls of the gallery. This is real progress in our work to engage with harder to reach individuals."

Inspector McKeon added: “We discussed this whole concept of running art workshops, and it seemed like a good opportunity to involve people who had previously refused any engagement with police or support services but did have a keen interest in art.  

"Throughout the project Diane has been able to keep track on progress of the artists within the facilities and the staff have been amazed by some individuals who have engaged in the project who previously have been difficult or impossible to engage with and manage."

PC Park said seeing the progress and growing self-worth of the artist’s taking part has been one of the most rewarding things she has done in her career.

“In terms of the art they are aware it is not a competition we know they already have enough challenges in their way, so we wanted this to be an inclusive activity,” she said.

'Policing alone cannot tackle the issue of drugs'

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, MsSpurrell, added : “Policing alone cannot tackle the issue of drugs in our community, that’s why it’s vital we combine enforcement with treatment and support through a whole-system approach.

“Prevention is absolutely essential and this project is a fantastic example of how the police are working with partners to explore innovative new ways to engage with vulnerable people to support them away from crime and help them to channel their energy into something much more positive.

“Ultimately, if we can help people to tackle and overcome their addictions, we will help to prevent crime, have fewer victims and build stronger, safer communities. My thanks go to everyone involved in this valuable project.”

The workshops are set to continue with support from the Oakland Gallery volunteers to offer an ongoing outlet for creativity and a diversion for hostel residents and service users.