Exclusive: Police used discretion to divert just 6.9% of people caught with personal use quantities of drugs from criminal justice system, data showsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA New South Wales government program that gives police discretion to divert people found with small quantities of illicit drugs away from the courts has only been extended to 6.9% of people caught, including just 2.6% of those who are Indigenous.The major reform by the Minns government came into effect in February this year and was flagged by the attorney general, Michael Daley, as a way to treat drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one. Yet data obtained from NSW police under freedom of information shows the vast majority of those caught with illegal drugs continue to be criminalised.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/04/more-than-90-of-people-caught-with-small-amounts-of-illicit-drugs-criminalised-in-nsw-despite-diversion-reforms
Author : Jordyn Beazley
Publish date : 2024-12-03 14:00:54
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More than 90% of people caught with small amounts of illicit drugs criminalised in NSW despite diversion reforms
