AMY WINEHOUSE - WINEHOUSE'S DAD BLASTS U.K. REHAB SYSTEM

WINEHOUSE'S DAD BLASTS U.K. REHAB SYSTEM

AMY WINEHOUSE's father has slammed Britain's rehab system - insisting criminal addicts are given preferential treatment over non-offending drug dependants.
Mitch Winehouse spoke out at the U.K. Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee in London on Tuesday (20Oct09) to advise politicians on his experience of the way addicts gain treatment.
The former taxi driver, who supported his famous daughter through several stints in rehab, is adamant convicted criminals use their addictions to get out of serving time in jail.
And Winehouse insists that Britain is wasting money on convicts who have no intention of getting clean, and forcing other addicts to commit crimes so they have a chance to enter rehab.
He tells the Committee, "Anecdotally people are definitely committing offences so they can have a chance, and it's only a chance, of receiving treatment."
The Committee is meeting to hold an inquiry into cocaine use in the U.K.
The Back To Black hitmaker's career has been blighted by drink and drugs, with the star finally kicking her habits during an eight-month stay in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.