MAGISTRATES PRAISE “EXCELLENT” TTC COURSE
Tameside magistrates experienced what it was like to attend a drink drive rehabilitation course which convicted drink drivers volunteer to attend in exchange for a lighter sentence.
A total of 16 magistrates and court staff who sit at Tameside Magistrates Court attended the seminar organised by the TTC Group which runs courses for drink drive offenders in the Greater Manchester region.
They attended a “walk through” presentation of the usual 18 hour rehabilitation course which is held over three separate sessions.
Tameside magistrate Lee Brown said: “It was excellent, a really good presentation. We all think we know a bit about alcohol but it really opened our eyes.
“I was recommended to go on the course by a magistrate in another area and I am really glad that I went.”
Magistrates learned about the strengths of different types of alcohol, including information and demonstrations on alcohol, units, absorption rates, health and the effects of alcohol on driving.
A total of 279 drink drivers were referred onto the course last year by Tameside magistrates, up 28 on 2004, and an increase of 84 from 2003.
A total of 3,088 motorists appeared before Greater Manchester magistrates in 2005 charged with drink driving with 1,672 volunteering to attend the rehabilitation course. They get up to a quarter off their driving ban for successfully completing the course which has been praised for reducing re-offending rates nationwide.
The TTC Group educates almost 10,000 convicted drink drivers each year from 14 English counties as well as the whole of mid and north Wales.
TTC manager Mel Hughes who presents the seminars said: “Magistrates are members of the public like everyone else and they find the information fascinating. It is always a real eye-opener for them.”
“The vast majority of drink drivers who attend our course, say they wished they had the knowledge before they broke the law,” added Mr Hughes, a former police Chief Inspector who is a member of the senior management team at the award winning TTC Group.
Magistrates from across the UK are being visited as part of a TTC tour to give an insight into the drink drive rehabilitation course.
By the end of 2007, a total of 2,500 magistrates and senior court staff will have witnessed an overview of the training course. For more information about corporate courses visit www.ttc-uk.com or call 0845 270 4380.
For more information contact the TTC Group at Grosvenor House, Central Park, Telford, Shropshire TF2 9TW - 0845 270 4380 –
www.ttc-uk.com or call publicity co-ordinator Elaine Adams on 01952 505026 mobile 07970 019184
