These guidelines aim to provide the NSW Police Force with enough information to enable officers to effectively use the Cannabis Cautioning Scheme.

NSW Police Force, 'Cannabis Cautioning Scheme Guidelines for Police : State Crime Command' (Guidelines, May 2025)

The law places limits on how police operate. Within those limits, police have a large amount of discretion about how they act. The way police use their discretion shapes people’s experiences with the criminal legal system and has been repeatedly linked to the over-representation of Aboriginal people in custody.

Police discretion

Diversions are options that police can use to prevent people from entering or continuing in the criminal legal system. Law and policy place some conditions on when diversions can be used. Police also have discretion about whether to use diversions. Research shows that diversions are underused for Aboriginal people, especially...

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NSW Police Force, 'Cannabis Cautioning Scheme Guidelines for Police : State Crime Command' (Guidelines, May 2025)

Police discretion

Policing and diversions