Equally Well Alcohol Diversion Pilot: Minor offences, health of individuals and health of communities in Kirkcaldy, Scotland

Background: Alcohol related misconduct and petty crime is a problem across Scotland. This misconduct not only impacts on those individuals involved but their families and friends, the criminal justice system, health services, and social services and the wider community. As part of the Equally Well programme, an alcohol diversion scheme was piloted in Fife, Scotland aimed at those who commit minor alcohol-related offences. The scheme offers offenders an option of removal of a fine (£40) for attendance at a three-hour educational course. The paper will describe the pilot intervention, present initial results, and highlight implications for future interventions. Methods: 60 people attended of 190 fixed penalty notices issued (32% attendance rate). The course involved a group session which provided information on drinking methods and the wider physical and societal implications of drinking. Understanding of the course and attitudinal changes were recorded through an electronic questionnaire completed at the end of the session. Results: Initial findings indicate that on leaving the course 81% of participants stated they were going to change their behaviour or were considering it. A reduction in re-offending rates has been observed; 13% of the participant population re-offended in comparison to 23% of the non-attendee group. Follow-up analysis of behavioural change will be available for presentation at the conference. Conclusions: Collaboration between governmental, health, and criminal justice agencies has developed an intervention that targets a diverse group of individuals to tackle alcohol-related misconduct. Initial results of the pilot indicate that it has potential to reduce alcohol-related misconduct.