Experimentation in alternatives to drug law enforcement has been growing globally in recent years. Several countries operate with various alternatives today, perhaps Portugal being the most prominent example where the possession of illicit drugs for personal use has been considered an administrative rather than a criminal offence since 2001. Furthermore, the Norwegian parliament has recently appointed a commission to consider how a similar model could be implemented in Norway. Such alternative models of drug control are not yet being considered at the national level in Denmark. However, some local initiatives and policies operate with various alternatives to drug law enforcement. This paper will describe a recent diversion project, initiated by a local police precinct in Denmark, which aim to direct young people encountered by the police in possession of drugs towards treatment and social services. The project was initiated because of the dissatisfaction of police officers with traditional law enforcement methods, which were perceived to not achieve the intended goal of dissuading young people from using illicit drugs.
The paper (co-authored by Esben Houborg and Sidsel Schrøder) will discuss this policing strategy and the new types of power and control involved in new and alternative forms of drug policy.