Police in East Yorkshire have begun a trial that sees drunken criminals escape prosecution if they agree to see an alcohol support worker. First-time or low-level offenders will be given a caution with the condition they attend the drug and alcohol support service Compass.
It is currently being trialled in the East Riding, where police have made reducing violent crime a priority.
The scheme is being funded by Humberside police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove, who previously said offenders would have to pay to go on alcohol awareness seminar. Instead, they will receive advice from Compass for free. Inspector David Braysmith, who heads up public order and licensing in the East Riding, said: "The majority of alcohol-related offences are at the less serious end of the scale and are committed by people who may not offend in other ways but who might be developing problems with alcohol. What we hope is that the condition attached to the caution will make people face up to their behaviour, think about their drinking and the impact of it."Compass service manager Jacqui Pooley said: "It is quite often a wake-up call for them to look at the effect their drinking is having."
Those who commit serious offences will still face prosecution.
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