About Victoria Police

Victoria Police established the Drug and Alcohol Strategy Unit in 1991. The role of the unit is to coordinate the development and implementation of drug and alcohol policies, strategies and initiatives within Victoria Police.  The policy framework for the development of a coordinated and integrated response to reducing drug-related harm in Australia is found in the National Drug Strategy.

This policy is based on harm minimisation, and aims to minimise the harmful effects of drugs. It is achieved through a balance of supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction strategies.  Victoria Police is an active participant in the National Drug Strategy and as such implements a range of reactive and proactive responses to drug issues that enhance our harm minimisation approach.

What is harm minimisation?

Harm minimisation aims to improve health, social and economic outcomes for the community and the individual, and encompasses a wide range of approaches, including:

• Supply reduction - strategies designed to disrupt the production and supply of illicit drugs.
• Demand reduction - strategies designed to prevent the uptake of harmful drug use.
• Harm reduction - strategies designed to reduce drug-related harm for particular individuals and communities.

The principle of harm minimisation acknowledges that early intervention strategies that reduce the risks of harm connected with drug use, without necessarily eliminating use, can be of benefit to the individual users and the wider community.

What does the Drug and Alcohol Strategy Unit do?

The Drug and Alcohol Strategy Unit performs a number of key tasks:

• Provides high-level policy advice on drug and alcohol issues to Victoria Police and the State government.
• Facilitates and coordinates the development of drug and alcohol policy initiatives for Victoria Police.
• Maintains an effective liaison with other law enforcement bodies, government departments and agencies and non-government organisations involved in the drug and alcohol field.
• Represents Victoria Police at various forums relating to drug and alcohol issues.
• Participates in the development of Victoria Police policies and procedures relating to harm minimisation.
• Coordinates and facilitates Victoria Police applications for funding from the relevant state and national agencies.
• Monitors and auspices projects funded under the National and Victorian Drug Strategies.
• Assists in the development, implementation and delivery of training programs on drugs and  alcohol disseminates information and resources on drug and alcohol issues.

Drug Diversion

Police Diversion at Point of Arrest Diversion, at the point of apprehension by the police, targets non-violent, illicit drug users. There must be sufficient admissible evidence that the offender is using or in possession of a small (non-traffikable) quantity of illicit drugs and the drugs must be for personal use only.

At police discretion, the offender is offered the option of a caution, provided the offender admits to the offence.
A person can accumulate two cautions only. A subsequent offence will result in prosecution.
Police Diversion at point of arrest will combine two cautioning programs, Cannabis Cautioning and Drug Diversion.

Cannabis Cautioning Program

The Cannabis Cautioning Program component of the Drug Diversion involves providing a cautioning notice for simple use/possess cannabis offences to adult offenders who meet the police criteria.  Cannabis educational information and a referral for a cannabis education session accompany the caution.

Drug Diversion Program

A person detained for use or possession of an illicit drug other than cannabis can be offered a caution on condition that they undertake a clinical assessment and commence drug treatment. The offender, who fits the criteria and agrees to a caution, will be provided with a drug assessment appointment within five working days of arrest.  If the offender complies with the conditions of the caution, no conviction will be recorded. Victoria Police will keep a record that the offender has received a drug caution but this information will not be released in criminal record checks for employment or travel.

If the offender does not comply with the conditions of the caution, the drug treatment agency will notify Victoria Police who  issues a summons to the offender who will then be brought to court on the use/possess charge.

Court Referral Education, Drug Intervention and Treatment (CREDIT)

The CREDIT program can be offered to offenders with substance issues as part of bail proceedings after initial arrest.

Persons charged with any offence who have an immediately presenting drug problem are referred by police for assessment by a drug clinician based at the court and, where appropriate, the alleged offender is diverted into a recommended treatment regime by the magistrate as a condition of bail.

This option is only available at Magistrates' Courts where there is a court appointed drug clinician, including:

• Melbourne (Tel. 9628 7931 or 96287932)
• Ballarat (Tel. 5336 6387)
• Bendigo (Tel. 5446 4138)
• Broadmeadows (Tel. 9302 1380)
• Dandenong (Tel. 9767 1361)
• Frankston (Tel. 9784 5788)
• Geelong (Tel. 5225 3385)
• Heidelberg (Tel. 8458 2060)
• Moe (Tel. 5127 4888)
• Ringwood (Tel. 9871 4479)
• Sunshine (Tel. 9300 6267)

Court diversion - Deferred sentencing

Deferred sentencing targets persons aged between 18 and 25 who have a drug problem and have been found guilty of an offence. Sentencing will be deferred for up to six months with a specific condition to attend drug treatment. Pre-sentence clinical drug assessments will be undertaken and a treatment plan recommended to the court. Offenders will then attend the prescribed drug treatment and a report on progress will be made to the court before sentencing.

Fifth Australasian Drug Strategy Conference (ADSC)

The ADSC was first held in 1999 and is now recognised as Australasia's pre-eminent Law Enforcement drug strategy conference. Held every two to three years, the conference attracts hundreds of delegates and international speakers.

The fifth ADSC, hosted by Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police, was held March, 2010 at the new Melbourne Convention Centre with a particular focus on the significant and dramatic impact of alcohol and drug misuse across all aspects of the community.

More information please contact the Drug and Alcohol Strategy Unit on 9024 6696.

For further information please contact:
Drug and Alcohol Strategy Unit
637 Flinders Street
DOCKLANDS VIC 3008
Tel  (03) 9247 6696
Fax (03) 9247 3572