Informed by this knowledge and research, they have built and continue to work off of theories that have looked at problem gambling and shown that pathological gamblers are, in almost all cases, involved in criminality. From there he started to explore these issues further and consider the different avenues of how this could be addressed by reaching out to different organisations. Whilst this issue was identified, he recognised that there was nothing locally or nationally that addressed problem gambling.

He came to realise that a significant amount of fraud that was being committed was a result of problem gambling. On Brian’s side, as a senior investigative officer at Cheshire police, the motivation that drove this pilot came from his own experience in his role. Neil said that where the service was implemented in the US, there was a 17-30% positive screening for problematic gambling at point of arrest. The success of the work in the US, coupled with the lack of services and provisions in the UK, really gave impetus to the pilot and also provided a knowledge base. After seeing how this worked and after reviewing the academic evidence, he was inspired to bring those ideas over to the UK and work towards trialling a similar service here. Whilst working in the USA, Neil saw the referrals made and services offered to those with problematic gambling issues who were also involved in criminal behaviour and their unique diversion system. He emphasised the lack of provisions for those with gambling addictions both within the infrastructure of the criminal justice system and wider support services. Through this pathway BCT is the Regional Treatment Provider for the North West and North Wales. From 2005, assistance for those with problematic gambling issues was removed from the NHS’s scope of focus and treatment and support is accessed through a commissioned process through GambleAware and GamCare. Neil said that the motivation and background to the gambling screening pilot was borne out of the absence of a “systemic approach to addressing problematic gambling in the UK’s criminal justice system”. Neil Platt, Project Lead and Clinical Director at Beacon Counselling Trust (BCT), and Detective Inspector Brian Faint, Senior Investigative Officer at Cheshire Police, spoke to us about what inspired and motivated their work with individuals with gambling addictions.

Pathological gambling screening tools