The Dechrau Newydd drug intervention service in North Wales has closed, with concerns raised about the impact on some of the region’s most vulnerable people.
Operated by drug and alcohol charity Kaleidoscope, the service provided support to people involved in the criminal justice system across six counties, including those leaving prison. The closure has resulted in the loss of 20 staff roles.
Kaleidoscope said it was ‘deeply saddened’ by the decision, warning of a likely rise in crime and additional pressure on the prison system as a result. ‘This is not just a step backward – it is a failure to protect the most vulnerable,’ the charity said. It added that the service had offered essential harm reduction and recovery support, including employing people with lived experience.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales said a new service model was being developed following the end of the contract with Kaleidoscope. A spokesperson said the aim was to minimise disruption and ensure that people who needed help continued to receive support.
Dechrau Newydd had provided harm reduction services, opiate substitute prescribing and care coordination for people in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system.
The closure comes amid wider discussions about how services for people with drug and alcohol problems should be delivered across Wales.