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A pioneering art project aimed at diverting people away from substance use and into support services has expanded across Merseyside.
First launched in Wirral last year, the We’ve got HeART project uses art to address substance use. The project is now live across Wirral and Knowsley, with more than 100 people taking part in the project to date.
The project began in 2023 when Constable Diane Park and Inspector Alan McKeon identified that high levels of substance misuse among hostel residents was driving high levels of crime and harm in Birkenhead, Wirral.
Working with the local drug recovery service and the hostel providers, an information sharing agreement and management group were initiated to coordinate efforts to refer the hostel residents into treatment and address the cause of their offending.
Although this approach led to a significant reduction in crime and demand in and around the hostel of 60%, there were some residents who remained resistant to working with drug support services.
It became apparent that some of the service users had a talent for art, which was going unnoticed. Diane and Alan saw this as an opportunity to explore using art to reduce and prevent substance use.
Through funding from Project Adder (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery), a national programme of coordinated law enforcement activity to divert people away from offending, the pilot project began, and the first exhibition opened to the public in February 2023 at the Oakland Gallery in New Brighton.
Participants are provided with all the equipment needed to produce a piece of artwork, including pencils, pastels, oil paint, acrylic paint, felt pens or anything else they need.
Workshops take place with local artists, who pass on their skills to participants. Police officers regularly attend the workshops with substance misuse workers to maintain consistent engagement and support the artists to address their addictions while exploring their creativity. The artwork ranges from drawings to paintings, sculptures, poems, and photography.
Since launching in Wirral, the project has now expanded into Knowsley. The second exhibition went live in July 2024 and featured more than 60 pieces of art from artists across Merseyside who have been positively engaging in drug prevention initiatives and seeking support through drug recovery partner Change, Grow, Live.
Inspector Alan McKeon, Prevention Hub, said, “Referring users into treatment services helps to break the business model that drives the illegal drugs trade and therefore helps protect vulnerable people.
“In 20 years of operational policing, this has been the most rewarding piece of work I have been involved in. It has demonstrated the importance of preventative work to reduce harm in our communities. A visitors’ book left in the gallery has received over 200 comments, many from visitors who were suffering with addiction and have now been inspired by We’ve Got HeART to seek help.”
We’ve got HeART on Crimewatch
One such artist is Amanda Murphy from Knowsley, who recently appeared alongside Insp McKeon on BBC Crimewatch Live to discuss the project.
Amanda said, “I was working with Change, Grow, Live as I was using alcohol as my crutch which led to my mental health getting worse and worse.
“Taking part in this project has helped me gain some clarity in my mind and become more focused on my recovery. It has meant fewer distractions for me and allowed me to make the best of my recovery with Change, Grow, Live and not fall into criminality as so many people in my position can do.”
Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said, “It’s brilliant to see this innovative project going from strength to strength.
“While enforcement is crucial in the fight against drugs in our communities, if we can reach users and help them to break the cycle of addiction, the knock-on effect can be far greater. We can prevent crime from happening in the first place and help vulnerable people to have a much better quality of life, while also taking away the market for the criminal gangs who peddle these substances.
“By building a close relationship with local hostels and taking a problem-solving approach, Diane and Alan have identified a unique way to reach people who would never normally engage with the police. This is helping those individuals to get the support they need to tackle their substance misuse and the issues which has led to offending.
“By doing so, they are genuinely changing lives for the better, while also making our communities healthier and safer. That’s an amazing achievement and I’d like to thank and applaud them for the difference they are making.”
The ‘We’ve got HeART’ project featured on BBC Crimewatch Live on 9 October.
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