Benefits and unintended outcomes

As with any new initiative, there is the risk of unintended outcomes. One unintended outcome of PCWs could be “net-widening”, or targeting of persons Police may have once dealt with more leniently (e.g., unruly persons being arrested instead of asked to move along). This would result in an increase in recorded offences. In 2012, a 5% reduction in the 16 offences for which PCWs were most commonly issued suggested “net-widening” is unlikely to be occurring.

The PCW process requires a degree of supervision above that for “informal” street warnings to ensure that an offender is suitable. This introduces transparent criteria and decision-making processes, and allows consideration of factors (such as public interest) away from the stressful situation of an arrest   an improvement on the informal warning process.

Offenders may be seen as being “let off” when given a PCW, but the process sends a stronger deterrent message than street or informal warnings as it involves arrest and processing at a Police station. It also affords intoxicated offenders the opportunity to sober up and accept responsibility for their actions. This can be a powerful “wake up call” for first time offenders. Police’s evaluation of PCWs quotes one officer as saying PCWs are “...a brilliant idea, as it doesn’t make criminals out of people who have committed a misdemeanour.”

Another positive spin-off from PCWs could be a reduction in the rate of recidivism. Analysis undertaken during the evaluation of PCWs showed a reduction in re-offending and the seriousness of re-offending. Police continues to analyse trends in this area.