DRUG DIVERSION SCHEMES: A THIRD LESS REOFFENDING THAN PROSECUTION

A groundbreaking study has found that drug diversion schemes, where police steer offenders into treatment instead of prosecution, cut reoffending rates by a third. Researchers analyzed data from 13 English police forces and over 62,000 incidents. Prof Alex Stevens, who led the research, says all forces should adopt these schemes. However, despite their effectiveness, diversion is used less often than it could be. The study also highlights that black people are less likely to be diverted for similar offenses, raising concerns about racial disparities in drug policing.