Drink Impaired Drivers' Programme (DID)

This page gives details of the Drink Impaired Drivers' programme run by probation staff for offenders throughout Thames Valley.

DID can form part of a Community Punishment Order, Community Rehabilitation Order, Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order or a post-release prison licence.

Please note: DID is the only programme run by Thames Valley which can be recommended to sentencers in a Specific Sentence Report (SSR) as well as in a Pre-Sentence Report (PSR).

Programme aims:

• To reduce the incidence of excess alcohol offences
• To increase public protection
• To challenge offenders to accept responsibility for their crime and its consequences
  

Who is suitable?
Offenders who:

• Are a medium to high risk to the public
• Have one to four previous convictions for excess alcohol
• Are aged 17 and over
• Are male or female
• Are assessed as suitable for the programme in a Pre-Sentence Report (PSR) or a Specific Sentence Report (SSR)

It is not suitable for:

• First time offenders
• Those with five or more previous convictions for excess alcohol
• Heavy drinkers

The programme involves:

• 5 individual sessions on risk assessment and group preparation
• 14 weekly groupwork sessions. These focus on structured learning to develop pro-social skills, effective decision-making and detailed knowledge about the effects of drinking and driving
  
• 5 evaluation and relapse prevention sessions
  
• Consistent monitoring and evaluation.

The National Probation Service - Thames Valley has a strict National Standards enforcement policy in relation to the Anti-Violence Groupwork Programme.

The National Probation Service - Thames Valley operates a race equality scheme. It will also carry out its responsibility to provide access and facilities for the physically disabled.