THE fight against drugs takes courage and imagination. That is why a pioneer-ing scheme in York is proving to be such a success. Instead of merely punishing first-time drug offenders, this initiative offers a choice of either punishment or advice.

The arrest referral scheme recognises that the drugs menace is not just a crimi-nal problem, or a health problem, or a social problem, but all of these. In mak-ing this imaginative leap, the scheme calls on the participation of the police, the health service and social services.

Such a forward-looking union is a local example of what this Government some-times calls 'joined-up thinking'. And in this instance, York is leading the way and showing the Government what can be done.

Home Secretary Jack Straw has already taken notice and announced his intention to have 400 arrest referral schemes, like that operating in York, up and running across the country by the year 2002.

As a step towards that eventual aim, York's pilot scheme has completed its trial period and from today is officially extended to the rest of North Yorkshire. In a further example of far-sightedness, the scheme has been extended to take in people arrested for non-drug offences. This expansion recognises that some crimes are caused by drugs, if, for exam-ple someone is arrested for shoplifting while trying to raise money to feed a drug habit.

People arrested for non-drugs offences will be able to see a referral worker, though in this instance they will not be given the option of having the legal proc-ess halted if they do.

It is important to stress that the arrest referral scheme is not a soft option. Peo-ple arrested for first-time drug offences are not in any sense being let off. Instead, they are made aware of the seriousness of their offences, while also being offered help to withdraw from drugs at an early stage.

Such socially-aware policing is a fine ex-ample of tough compassion, as it recognises that society may never be completely free of drugs, while also tack-ling the problem in a visionary and forthright manner. And it's all happening here in York before anywhere else.