NSW police less likely to give Indigenous offenders warnings for minor cannabis offences

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report found the cautioning rate for Indigenous offenders was 11.7% compared with 43.9% for non-Indigenous offenders. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

Indigenous offenders are far less likely to receive warnings for low-level cannabis offences due to the restrictive eligibility criteria of the New South Wales cautioning scheme, a trend described by the state’s crime statistics bureau as “concerning”.

The state’s cannabis cautioning scheme is designed to keep individuals out of court for minor cannabis offences, instead directing them towards treatment and support.