We provide Liaison and Diversion Services in the following areas:

  • West Mercia
  • Staffordshire
  • Black Country
  • Cheshire
  • Sussex

These specialised teams work within police custody suites, courts and in the community.

The West Mercia service for Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire covers the police custody suites in Telford, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Worcester and Kidderminster.

The Staffordshire, services cover the Northern Area & Watling Street custody suites, Cannock Magistrates & North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

The Cheshire service for North, East and West Cheshire and Chester covers police custody suites in Runcorn, Middlewich and Blacon. We also operate a service from Warrington Combined Crown & Magistrates court, Crewe County courts, Chester Magistrates and Crown court.

Black Country services are provided in to Oldbury, Wolverhampton and Bloxwich Custody Suites, and Wolverhampton, Dudley Magistrates Court and Wolverhampton Crown Court.

In Sussex the service covers the Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Hastings and Eastbourne custody suites, Lewes Crown Court, Hove Trial Centre, Brighton Crown Court, Brighton Magistrates Court, Hastings Magistrates Court and Crawley Magistrates Court.

The teams assess vulnerable individuals with complex needs who are being brought into the Criminal Justice System having been accused of criminal activity. These needs include, but are not limited to, support with mental health or a learning disability, alcohol or substance misuse, homelessness, financial needs or social difficulties.

Please note: criminal justice mental health services in North Staffordshire are provided by North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust.

Why are Liaison and Diversion services needed?

The evidence is that vulnerable people (both youth and adult) with unmet needs are more likely to come into contact with criminal justice services than the general population. They are also more likely to be victims of domestic violence and the emotional and social impact of being suspected of, or charged with, a crime can be more significant.

By identifying and addressing these unmet needs at the earliest opportunity, it is expected that the risk of re-offending behaviours will reduce, contributing to a reduction in future contacts with the Criminal Justice System.