Information on Drug diversion scheme
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.031027
I note you seek access to the following information:
Redefined request:
1. Is drug diversion implemented anywhere in your constabulary area? If so, where?
2. When (year and month) did your police force formally start implementing its drug diversion scheme?
3. What diversion methods does your police force use? Examples might include out of court disposals or community resolutions. Please list all that apply.
4. Does your police force monitor the outcomes of its diversion scheme? If so, what does it measure? Please list all that apply.
5. Does your police force require that a person caught in possession of drugs formally admit guilt or acceptance of responsibility to be eligible for diversion?
6. Does your police force’s diversion scheme allow people to pass through it more than once?
8. Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, what has been the most commonly recorded substance? Does the scheme allow for all classes of drugs?
9. Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, has recorded drug use decreased or increased in your constabulary area?
Please specify in terms of
a) the number of recorded incidents;
b) the drug use rate; and
c) broken down by the ethnicity of the subject, as perceived by the reporting officer.
10. Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, to what extent has reoffending or rereferrals decreased or increased for minor drug crimes? Please specify in terms
a) the number of recorded incidents;
b) the reoffending rate; and
c) broken down by the ethnicity of the subject, as perceived by the reporting officer.
11. Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, how many more or less people have engaged in drugs support, education, and treatment services? Please specify in terms of
a) the number of recorded cases and;
b) broken down by the ethnicity of the subject, as perceived by the reporting officer.
12. Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, has police resource for tackling minor drug offences decreased or increased? Please specify in terms of
a) the number of officers deployed;
b) amount of police hours worked; and
c) financial costs.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - Is drug diversion implemented anywhere in your constabulary area? If so, where?
Drug diversion is established within the MPS.
The ‘Drug Intervention Programme’ (DIP) is established MPS wide. Persons arrested and brought into MPS custody suites are risk assessed and if suitable are tested for the presence of Class A drugs during their time in custody. If the detainee is a London resident and tests positive they will be referred to drug service treatment in the community as a means of diversion away from criminality. This supported structured treatment is offered by community partners within London boroughs who work in collaboration with the MPS under the DIP.
Q2 - When (year and month) did your police force formally start implementing its drug diversion scheme?
DIP begun its implementation in the MPS in 2003.
Q3 - What diversion methods does your police force use? Examples might include out of court disposals or community resolutions. Please list all that apply.
With all criminal investigations an evidential review officer is required to review all evidence on the conclusion of the investigation and make a decision as to how to proceed with the case. At this evidential review stage a range of disposal outcomes are available subject to evidential and public interest tests. This could include further out of court disposals for drugs offences such as simple cautions.
For example, should a person be found in possession of personal use cannabis and they have already been issued with a community resolution (i.e. it is not their first instance of cannabis possession) on the second occasion they should be issued with a penalty notice for disorder – a further out of court disposal. If they are found in possession of cannabis for personal use a third time and have already been issued with a community resolution and a PND then the attending officers should consider arrest.
Q4 - Does your police force monitor the outcomes of its diversion scheme? If so, what does it measure? Please list all that apply.
DIP performance is monitored by a central team. Reports are collated and comprise of data regarding tests conducted and attendance following referrals. This is shared with stakeholders and partners regularly.
Case outcomes will be subject to performance monitoring for all offences locally and centrally within the MPS.
Q5 - Does your police force require that a person caught in possession of drugs formally admit guilt or acceptance of responsibility to be eligible for diversion?
A Community Resolution (CR) is an Out of Court Disposal, used throughout England and Wales since 2013 and the Met since Aug 2017. It is a victim-focused outcome, allowing the victim to be both part of the decision making process and involved in the resolution of the crime. Victims must be consulted about the outcome and have the process explained to them. A CR involves the offender (suspect) accepting responsibility for the crime (admission of guilt) and accept receipt of the CR. For this to be a suitable and recordable outcome, the offender has to offer an act of reparation; e.g. an apology, repair or financial remuneration. A case disposal outcome of a simple police caution would require an offender to make a full admission of the offence. This is the case to accepting a simple caution for any offence.
Q6 - Does your police force’s diversion scheme allow people to pass through it more than once?
Referrals via DIP are unlimited.
Q8 - Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, what has been the most commonly recorded substance? Does the scheme allow for all classes of drugs?
DIP tests for Class A drugs within custody, specifically for opiates, cocaine and crack cocaine. The majority of DIP referrals are for cocaine use.
Cannabis possession diversion policy is specific to cannabis.
Q9 - Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, has recorded drug use decreased or increased in your constabulary area? Please specify in terms of
a) the number of recorded incidents;
b) the drug use rate; and
c) broken down by the ethnicity of the subject, as perceived by the reporting officer.
Q10 - Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, to what extent has reoffending or rereferrals decreased or increased for minor drug crimes?
Please specify in terms
a) the number of recorded incidents;
b) the reoffending rate; and
c) broken down by the ethnicity of the subject, as perceived by the reporting officer.
Q11 - Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, how many more or less people have engaged in drugs support, education, and treatment services?
Please specify in terms of
a) the number of recorded cases and;
b) broken down by the ethnicity of the subject, as perceived by the reporting officer.
Q12 - Since the diversion scheme has been implemented by your police force, has police resource for tackling minor drug offences decreased or increased? Please specify in terms of
a) the number of officers deployed;
b) amount of police hours worked; and
c) financial costs.
For questions 9 -12 we do not hold information which would answer these questions. In addition under the FOIA we are not obliged to create new information to answer these questions.
As such for question 9-12 we do not hold information pertinent to these questions.