Key Points

Key Points

• PCWs enable Police to deal with minor offending, often committed while the offender was intoxicated, in an effective way. This reduces the need for costly Court hearings, and also allows offenders meeting PCW criteria to avoid receiving a criminal conviction.
• Around 2,000 PCWs are issued every month. Approximately half are for Breach of Liquor Ban and Disorderly Conduct offences, and one third go to offenders aged between 17 and 20.
• Since their introduction in 2010, PCWs have resulted in approximately 37,000 hours of Police time being freed up. This is the equivalent of an additional 24 full-time officers undertaking preventative activities, such as bail checks following up court warrants, and assisting in drug and organised crime-related operations.
• Police has achieved a 25% reduction in the number of prosecutions going through Courts over the last two years. Around half of this has come from PCWs.

Outline