Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)

What is it?
DARE was first piloted in Los Angeles in 1983 to try to halt the rise in Drug Abuse, associated Crime and Violence, and to stop the damage being done to a generation of children. A partnership between Police, Schools and Parents was formed to look at tackling the problem through education. DARE came to the UK in 1993 and was thoroughly piloted in Nottinghamshire between 1993-1996.

DARE in the City
In 1995 the Head teacher at the Sir John Cass Foundation School asked if it was possible for the local Schools Officer to find a drug presentation that could be presented in the school, this was as a result of the DFE95 document which stated that all schools should consider some form of drug education.

One Sergeant and one Police Constable attended a training course in Los Angeles, which allowed the programme to be presented in the City of London. The first presentations were made at the Sir John Cass Foundation School. The presentations were to year 5 and 6 at this school in December 1995.

A steering group runs DARE; this consists of a number of people from outside companies, parents, educationists, retired Police officers and many others. The group carries out fundraising and many other tasks which are essential for the programme to survive.

Officers in the City now present to year 3, the K-4 programme, year 5 the Core, Year 7 or 8 the Middle school, and have now written a parenting programme which will be presented to parents on estates and within companies.

DARE has been rewritten a number of times since its introduction into the UK, this was last completed in 2003. All officers attended a retraining course that was run by DARE UK in Nottingham

We now have 10 trained officers; all officers are able to present the Core programme. 6 officers are able to present the Middle school programme and 1 officer is trained to present the Parenting programme. We are the only force in the country with Middle and Parenting trained officers

Topics
his year and early next we will be talking to over 500 children in schools in the City. The 10 Officers cover every school in the City of London doing a combination of the above lessons. All lessons are age specific.

• Bullying
• Peer Pressure
• Anti Social Behaviour
• Smoking
• Alcohol

The subjects covered in the Core programme: 9-11

• Peer Pressure
• Dealing with Dilemmas
• Anti social behaviour including bullying
• Personal Pressure
• Forming friendships
• Decision Making

We also give facts on all the following:

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Cannabis

The Middle school: 13-15 years old

• Being Responsible
• What do you believe about Drugs?
• Risk
• Forming Friendships
• Asking for help
• Resolving a conflict
• Scruples
• Media Pressure

If you have any questions about DARE or require any further information about any of the programmes please contact the City of London DARE coordinator;
Bishopsgate Police Station
182, Bishopsgate
London. EC2M 4NP

Tel: 020 7601 2652
Fax: 020 7601 2090