Alternatives to Criminalisation: Police Drug Diversion
Discover how innovative drug diversion schemes are changing the way police respond to drug-related offences in England.
This research project is an evaluation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of police-led diversion (PDD) schemes for drug-involved suspects. A team of academic, policing, health and service user partners are evaluating PDD schemes that are already operating in three areas; Durham, Thames Valley and West Midlands. People on the schemes are assessed, then referred to education, treatment or support (as needed) with an ‘out of court disposal’, like a warning, which does not create a criminal record.
Researchers are using data already collected by the police, NHS, and drug treatment services to assess the impacts of diversion on crime, hospitalisations and engagement with drug treatment. They are comparing the outcomes for people eligible for diversion in the three areas to the outcomes of similar people in matched areas which do not yet use PDD (Humberside, Hampshire and Greater Manchester). In order to learn how PDD schemes work in practice, the team have carried out interviews and focus groups with the people who work with these schemes, including police officers, drug treatment providers, service users and their families. We are also examining what the equitable the effects of PDD are (e.g. by ethnicity and gender).
Credits
Video Contributors:
- Professor Alex Stevens (Chair in Criminology at the University of Sheffield)
- Dr Rivka Smith (Research Associate at the University of Sheffield and Co-chair of the Sheffield University Policing Research Group)
- Professor Mark Monoughan (Head of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy at Loughborough University)
- Dr Jenni Berlin (Lead Researcher at UserVoice)
- Alexander Beerjeraz (National Delivery Lead at UserVoice)
- Paul Duckworth (Peer Researcher at UserVoice)
- Tracy Claughton (Checkpoint Manager at Durham Constabulary)
- Yasmin Mortonb (Checkpoint Navigator at Durham Constabulary)
- Andy Crowe (Superintendent at Durham Constabulary)
- Video created by Will Armson
Sheffield Research Team:
- Professor Alex Stevens (Chair in Criminology at the University of Sheffield)
- Dr Matthew Bacon (Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Sheffield)
- Dr Rivka Smith (Research Associate at the University of Sheffield and Co-chair of the Sheffield University Policing Research Group)
Special Thanks:
- Thanks to the University of Sheffield Public Engagement Team and The University of Loughborough Knowledge Exchange Team for funding and supporting the production of this video.
- This research was funded by The Cabinet Office Evaluation Accelerator Fund (EAF). The EAF supports evaluation across government to transform our understanding of the impact of activity in priority policy areas.
- In undertaking this research, the Sheffield is thankful to have worked with over 20 researchers and practitioners from research partners at User Voice, Durham Constabulary, West Midlands Police, Thames Valley Police, University of Kent, University of Loughborough, University of York, The College of Policing, The Bradford Institute for Health Research, Anglia Ruskin University, National Police Chiefs Council, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.
