News In Brief
A trial of courts which deal specifically with drug misuse and associated crime is to be extended to a further four magistrates’ courts, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced. The drug court pilot scheme, currently underway at West London and Leeds magistrates’ courts has been found to help lower re-offending rates among those who commit theft and robbery to fund drug habits. Offenders sentenced through the drug courts are subject to community orders with a drug rehabilitation requirement, as part of which they are obligated to undergo regular drug tests.