Police drug diversion in England and Wales: Findings from a realist process evaluation

Background: While drugs policing often involves enforcement interventions that seek to tackle drug offences and drug-related crime through criminal sanctions, in England and Wales diversion now occupies a central position in police responses to people suspected of either simple possession or an offence related to their drug use. Police-led drug diversion (PDD) schemes, which are also referred to as out-of-court disposals or resolutions, have the potential to reduce the health, social and economic harms that are associated with drug use, drug markets, and efforts to control them through the criminal justice system. People are diverted away from prosecution and criminal sanctions and towards education, treatment and support. Diversion schemes are supported by current policy, but the UK evidence base is limited.

Methods: This paper adds to this evidence base, discussing the emerging findings from a large-scale, multi-site, realist evaluation of PDD schemes, funding by the UK Cabinet Office. We focus on findings from the process evaluation strand of the project, which involved conducting over 200 interviews with police officers, staff working in various partner agencies that deliver diversionary interventions, and people who have been diverted (divertees).

Results: The findings we present focus on key mechanisms and moderators that are pertinent to understanding the implementation and outcomes of PDD, including: the nature and functioning of law enforcement and public health partnerships in the context of diversion; triage, needs assessment and the substance of diversion; and divertee motivation, engagement and outcomes.

Conclusions: Our conclusion considers the policy and practice implications by reflecting on what works, for whom, under what circumstances and why.