The third seminar in the Wales Safer Communities Network series focused on the innovative public health approach to drug possession in Dyfed Powys. This approach aims to address substance misuse and its impact on crime through diversion to treatment and rehabilitation, rather than traditional criminal justice methods.
Public Health Approach to Drug Possession
The Dyfed Powys Police have introduced a successful scheme for adults caught in possession of illegal substances. This scheme offers a pathway to treatment and rehabilitation outside the traditional criminal justice system. The project has shown three core benefits:
1. A positive rate of engagement with treatment services and a reduction in street-level demand for drugs.
2. Increased police capacity, allowing officers to focus on prevention, tackling drug supply, and other priority areas.
3. Reduced pressure on the criminal justice system, with fewer open investigations and a shift in focus towards more serious drug offences.
Key Insights and Outcomes
Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llewelyn provided the background and context for the diversionary approach, emphasising the need for innovative methods to address substance misuse. Gareth Roberts explained the diversionary mechanism for adults caught in simple drug possession, highlighting the policy change that allows unlimited diversions. The interim evaluation results showed an 81.7% engagement rate for treatment and diversion, with a 55% increase in diversion opportunities.
Detective Superintendent Gareth Roberts of Dyfed Powys Police demonstrated the Breaking Free online treatment programme, which has been effective in managing demand and providing rich data on substance misuse, demographics, and outcomes. The project faces challenges such as improving engagement rates with drug-specific treatment partners and capturing quantitative data, but it aims to move into business as usual.
To learn more about the innovative public health approach to drug possession in Dyfed Powys, watch the recording and view the slide pack from the seminar.
