Decriminalisation proposals would free up to 60,000 Garda hours

New decriminalisation proposals would see some 11,000 people who face the prospect every year of a criminal conviction for possessing small amounts of drugs diverted to health authorities for treatment.

The proposals would free up to 60,000 hours of Garda time that is currently spent arresting and prosecuting such offenders.

A landmark report by the Oireachtas justice committee, has “strongly” recommended the adoption of a Portugese-type model, whereby drug users are diverted from the criminal justice system to education and treatment this freing up police resources to target traffickers and dealers.