International Alcohol and Crime Briefs

January 2012


Australia

  • A coalition of organizations led by the Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria) and funded by the Victoria Law Foundation and the Reichstein Foundation support Smart Justice. Learn about their efforts »

Canada

  • The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) contracted with LifeSafer to conduct a study on interlocked offenders’ behavioral patterns and the features of effective interlock programs. Dr. Ward Vanlaar, TIRF’s Vice President of Research, will serve as principal investigator. For more information, contact Sara Oglestone at sarao@tirf.ca or 1-877-238-5235.

Scotland

  • In 2010, Ireland passed the Road Traffic Act, which lowered the legal limit and provided for mandatory alcohol testing of drivers involved in crashes where some is injured. More information »

September 2011


Canada

  • On July 17-18, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) co-hosted the International Symposium on Drugs and Driving with the U.S. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction. The symposium drew experts in a variety of disciplines from around the world.

Scotland

  • Strathclyde, Scotland’s largest police force, introduced a plan that would prohibit offenders accused of certain violent crimes from drinking while on bail. Program participants would be required to submit to breath alcohol testing up to twice a day and incarcerated immediately if they tested positive. The proposal followed a successful trial in domestic violence cases in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

December 2010


United Kingdom

  • Officials in London are considering implementing a 24/7 Sobriety Program based upon the South Dakota model. Click here for an article in the London Daily Mail.

August 2010


Canada

  • The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) will host the 11th Annual Alcohol interlock Symposium, taking place October 17-18, 2010, in Montebello, Canada. The symposium will focus on harmonizing policies and practices across jurisdictions and across disciplines. It will explore opportunities to streamline program delivery and examine the implementation of first offender programs. The Proceedings from last year’s symposium are available at www.tirf.ca.

United Kingdom

  • Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for policing in London and member of the London Assembly, is proposing that the city follow the example set by the South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program.

April 2010 Updates


United Kingdom

  • The Home Office released Alcohol Arrest Referral: A Guide to Setting Up Schemes in November. Click here to download a copy.

December 2009 Updates


United Kingdom

  • Prison overcrowding is leading to a national crisis. The Prison Governors Association is urging the country to abolish terms of 12 months or less. The National Victims’ Association and British Retail Consortium are fighting the proposal. Click here for details.

September 2009 Updates


Canada

  • The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) is conducting an evaluation of alcohol ignition interlock devices in Nova Scotia. More info »

  • Ladybug Teknologies is launching a software application to help educate social drinkers about their alcohol consumption in real time.

United Kingdom

  • The Department for Transport (DfT) launched the THINK! Drug Drive campaign to address drugged driving. The effort reinforces important educational, legal and policy messages to the public. Visit site »

Australia

  • TIRF is hosted the 10th Annual Alcohol Symposium (also known as the Interlock Symposium) in Melbourne, Australia in October. www.interlocksymposium.com