HC Deb 01 July 1996 vol 280 cc307-8W
Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the paper presented by Judge Goldstein to the conference of chiefs of police on 17 June; and if he will make a statement. [34656]

Mr. Sackville

Courts in this country have powers to ensure that, in appropriate cases, drug misusing offenders receive treatment as part of a community sentence. Treatment for minor offenders is also arranged through arrest referral schemes set up between the police and drug treatment agencies.

In the light of Judge Goldstein's paper on the American system of drug courts, the scope for maximising the use of non-custodial drug treatment options is currently under review.