Time for a more radical form of police diversion

We need to reconsider how we focus our scarce resources on those young people who need it most in the interests of them and the public, writes Professor Ursula Kilkelly.

Earlier this week, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, appeared before the Policing Authority to account for the failure of An Garda Síochána to progress nearly 8,000 referrals (almost 3,500 young people) from the Garda Diversion Programme over a seven-year period. The failures, due to Garda inaction, were described by the commissioner as “professionally humiliating”.