Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 61
61
Deferred
Paragraph: 219
Mandate all police forces to establish standardised diversion schemes for low-level drug offences.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Home Office place a duty on all 43 police forces in England and Wales to establish diversion schemes in their force area for young people and adults who have committed low-level offences. The duty must outline requirements for the diversion schemes in order to ensure a minimum standard that all diversion schemes must satisfy. In drafting the duty, the Home Office must consult with police 80 Drugs forces and relevant stakeholders on what the minimum standards should include. The Home Office must also publish guidance on the implementation and operation of diversion schemes.
Government Response Summary
The government notes existing Out of Court Disposal (OOCD) pathways and plans to roll out pilots to expand OOCD use for drug possession offences in a small number of forces. This work aims to establish a national picture and provide an evidence base for future policy approaches, rather than immediately placing a duty on all forces.
Paragraph Reference:
219
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Most police forces in England and Wales already have a range of options at their disposal, for instance via Out of Court Disposal (OOCD) pathways. These routes offer approaches based on the operational judgement of forces. Where appropriate, forces have the option to use such pathways to deliver meaningful consequences, such as treatment or education. As committed to in the Drug Strategy, we will soon be rolling out pilots to expand the use of OOCDs within a small number of forces for drug possession offences, and to better understand efficacy of educational interventions for offenders. As part of the OOCD expansion pilots project, the Home Office also aims to establish a more detailed national picture of OOCDs, by examining their provision in all 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales. The pilot will also support work to develop immediate justice as a sanction police could place on drug users. The overall programme of work on OOCDs will provide valuable evidence base for future policy approaches, so that we can ensure the OOCD pathways provide best possible outcomes for communities and for offenders.