An evaluation of the high risk offender scheme.

A brief description is given of the High Risk Offender Scheme, a project set up to deal with offenders disqualified from driving because their drinking was `out of control'. The authors examine a number of aspects including a) trends in th numbers and characteristics of HROs over the period 1990-95, b) the drinking habits and social characteristis of a sample of HROs and c) the reasons why a substantial number of HROs fail to reapply for licences at the end of their disqualification. The results show an overall decrease in the number of HROs although this masks significant differnces by age and gender, in particular an increase in the number of female HROs aged 45-59 years.