HE robbed elderly women, held a knife to the throat of drug dealers and was stabbed 14 times - all because he was desperate for his next fix.

For James nothing else mattered.

His waking day focused on committing crime to fund his drug habit, getting out on to the streets to buy drugs and dodging the police.

He was brought up in South London and, heavily influenced by his cousin, began smoking cannabis when he was 11. By the time he reached his 16th birthday he was doing crack cocaine.

But after 14 years in and out of prison and numerous attempts to get clean, he has now been drug free for six months after being selected by Bournemouth Police to join the Pier Project.

The 38-year-old says he would almost certainly be serving a very long prison term or be dead if it wasn't for the project.

"They have saved my life - and I never thought I would ever say that about the police," he said.

James (not his real name) is one of 19 drug addicts who are currently part of the Pier Project and the drop in crime in Bournemouth town centre over the past six months is a positive indication to show it is working.

The Pier Project was born in November last year and is overseen by DCI Stuart Katon and led by DI Neil Claughton. The team also includes two full-time detective constables, a probation officer, a Crime Reduction Initiative specialist and an analyst.

It provides instant drug treatment and ongoing lifestyle support for the most chaotic drug offenders who are committing crime to fund their habits.

Led by the police, it also involves numerous agencies as part of the Bournemouth Partnership.

The partners include a doctor, a drugs worker, the Alleyway Trust, Spirit Group, Providence Group, Clouds, Streetscene, Bournemouth Churches Housing Association, YMCA, PAS Ltd, the Department of Social Security, Jobcentre Plus, Lansdowne College, Second Chance, Badsuf, the probation service, police, the local drugs action team and Bournemouth Borough Council.

DCI Katon said: "It is to stop and relieve a dire syndrome of the constant revolving door between drugs, crime and prison. We aim to stop that revolving door by enlisting people on to the project."

The Pier Project is a voluntary scheme which means the police have no powers to make people join.

DCI Katon said: "The Pier Project selects the clients and offers them a full range of services. We can also offer these services in consultation with the prisons and solicitors.

"We say to them: If you refuse to come on board you will get an increased level of police attention. We will target you."

The targeting includes drawing up an action plan with the local section commander which informs officers who to target.

"If they are not caught committing crime, project workers will revisit them to ask them to reconsider joining the project.

DCI Katon said: "We make no apologies that it's coercive. We will get you one way or another because the whole aim of this is to reduce crime."

DI Claughton added: "These people commit the crime to fund their habit. With no habit, hopefully there is no crime to commit.

"We identify these people while they are still out in the community. Most of the other projects in the country only identify people once they are in the criminal justice system and then work with them in prison."

Those chosen to go on the project are assessed to allow workers to find them the best form of treatment, before being put on detox and treated for any medical conditions.

The doctors on the project prescribe a Subutex treatment plan rather than methadone to clients, as many drug addicts who are prescribed methadone can get addicted to it.

Those leading the project say research shows there are nine key factors involved in persistent behaviour - drug and alcohol misuse, mental and physical heath, education, employment, attitude and self control, institutionalisation, housing, financial support and debt and family motives.

With these in mind the aim of the project is to reduce criminality, reduce the offending behaviour of the clients and help them lead a crime- and drug-free lifestyle.

Another important factor is to reduce the cost of associated criminality - for every £1 spent in treatment £3 is saved in the criminal justice system.

Bournemouth Police say the latest crime figures for the town speak volumes for the project. Since it began there has been a 50 per cent reduction in street robbery, a 20 per cent reduction in dwelling burglary in Boscombe and a 10 per cent drop in vehicle crime.

Although the project is not the only factor behind the decrease, DCI Katon believes it has had a big influence. Some 17 people who have been on the project from the start and stopped offending have saved society an estimated £4 million in drug-related acquisitive crime.

The real test will come when an evaluation report, being compiled by Bournemouth University, shows the impact the project has had on offending in Bournemouth.

CLIENT ONE:JAMES

WHEN James (not his real name) was on his £200-a-day crack habit, nothing else mattered.

He wasn't choosy about who he robbed as long as he got enough money for his next fix.

But after spending years in prison and numerous attempts at rehab James, 38, has finally got himself clean.

He was chosen as a Pier Project client in December last year and says he was dubious about the idea.

"I was a bit sceptical. I was a bad person and was well-known with all the police officers in the area.

"I never had any dealings with the police apart from them nicking me. I couldn't understand why they wanted to help," he said.

Following his success with the project, James is now looking ahead to continuing with a project entitled Fathers Against Drugs, which he set up with an old friend.

"I feel grateful because when I was there I was resigned to the fact that was how it was going to be.

"If the Pier Project hadn't come along I would most probably be doing a lengthy stretch in prison or would be dead by now.

"I can honestly say they have saved my life in many ways - before I wasn't living, I was just existing."

James said there are numerous points in a drug addict's life when they need help - but added that spaces are so limited people are often turned away and told to return.

"There are lots of other people out there who need help.

"If someone wants the help they should be given it there and then."

James added: "I am an addict for the rest of my life.

"All I can do is continue with my life as it is now and take each day as it comes."

CLIENT TWO:EAMON

EAMON first moved to Bournemouth in 1996 straight out of prison. He was addicted to crack cocaine and heroin and stole, robbed and assaulted to get a fix.

But since February he has been a member of the Pier Project, and although it is early days, is clean.

Speaking of his life as a drug addict, Eamon said: "I thought I was going die a junkie in an alleyway in Boscombe. That's is what I had to look forward to."

He was introduced to the Pier Project when he was at a treatment centre.

"Through the project offering me the chance of going into treatment they have offered me a chance to live again - for me that is a big deal.

"When you are an addict you only think about where the drugs are going to come from, how you are going to get your next fix.

"You would have crossed the road if you saw me coming. If you had something I liked I would take it - that's probably why I was chosen for the project."

He said he had been helped by the Providence Group, which runs detox and rehab programmes.

"They give you a bit of self-esteem back," he added.

For now, proud of how far he has come, Eamon is taking each day as it comes.