23% reduction in offending thanks to West London Drugs Court

This innovative pilot has had encouraging results. The figures for “non-motor” theft in Hammersmith and Fulham for the last quarter of 2005 (the court opened on 13 December 2005) compared with those for last quarter of 2006, show a 23% reduction in offending.

Part of a pilot under the Ministry of Justice, the court caters for low level offenders who commit drug fuelled crime. The way it works is through mandatory drug testing coupled with a series of reviews where the offender returns to the court.

The key factor is continuity. This means that the offender will see the same judge when they return, who knows about their case and any issues connected with it. The purpose of the review is not only to discuss the progress of the order but also to build up the offender’s self respect.

In addition there is also represantatives from the Drug Intervention Programme, Narcotics Anonymous and Mental Health Services.

Judges who sit in the court are specially trained in drug law, drug awareness and drug rehabilitation. Reviews have a separate list, and are not mixed, for example, with remands. Reviews are done in a small courtroom and the style accentuates informality.

So far there have been encouraging results. The figures for “non-motor” theft in Hammersmith and Fulham for the last quarter of 2005 (the court opened on 13.12.05) compared with those for last quarter of 2006, show a 23% reduction in offending.

The court has found have found that the longer people stay on their Drug Rehabilitation Requirement the less likely they are to be arrested for theft. (This follows research which came to similar conclusiions in U.S.A. and Australia.) About 60% of those on orders are not convicted of any offences during the order.

23% reduction in offending thanks to West London Drugs Court

This innovative pilot has had encouraging results. The figures for “non-motor” theft in Hammersmith and Fulham for the last quarter of 2005 (the court opened on 13 December 2005) compared with those for last quarter of 2006, show a 23% reduction in offending.

Part of a pilot under the Ministry of Justice, the court caters for low level offenders who commit drug fuelled crime. The way it works is through mandatory drug testing coupled with a series of reviews where the offender returns to the court.

The key factor is continuity. This means that the offender will see the same judge when they return, who knows about their case and any issues connected with it. The purpose of the review is not only to discuss the progress of the order but also to build up the offender’s self respect.

In addition there is also represantatives from the Drug Intervention Programme, Narcotics Anonymous and Mental Health Services.

Judges who sit in the court are specially trained in drug law, drug awareness and drug rehabilitation. Reviews have a separate list, and are not mixed, for example, with remands. Reviews are done in a small courtroom and the style accentuates informality.

So far there have been encouraging results. The figures for “non-motor” theft in Hammersmith and Fulham for the last quarter of 2005 (the court opened on 13.12.05) compared with those for last quarter of 2006, show a 23% reduction in offending.

The court has found have found that the longer people stay on their Drug Rehabilitation Requirement the less likely they are to be arrested for theft. (This follows research which came to similar conclusiions in U.S.A. and Australia.) About 60% of those on orders are not convicted of any offences during the order.