HC Deb 23 October 2003 vol 411 cc685-6W
David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrestees in(a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside police authority area tested positive for Category A and B drugs in each of the last two quarters for which figures are available. [133219]

Caroline Flint

[holding answer 20 October 2003]Drug testing of persons in police detention (after charge) is not currently available in Haltemprice and Howden or the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Within the Humberside Police Authority, the following figures relate to the Kingston-upon-Hull Basic Command Unit (BCU):

Out of 121 attempted tests since the drug testing after charge programme began on 8 September 2003, 48 people tested positive for both category A and B drugs. Of those 48 positive results, 52 per cent. Tested positive for cocaine, 15 per cent. Tested positive for opiates and 33 per cent. Tested positive for both opiates and cocaine.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how many hits on average per registered heroin addict have been seized by the police in each of the last 10 years. [132732]

Caroline Flint

It is not possible to estimate the number of hits on average per registered heroin addict seized by the police because only broad ranging estimates of the number of heroin addicts are available. The quantity of drug used in a "hit" will also vary. We do have data on the number of seizures of heroin made by the police, and the quantities they seized: these appear in the table.

These data are taken from the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin, and Finding 202 "Seizures of drugs in the UK 2001". These are available on the RDS website and in the Library (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb402.pdf and http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r202.pdf).

Number of seizures of heroin and quantities in kilograms seized by the police by year 1993 to 2001
Heroin seizures
Number Quantity (Kg)
1993 3,480 130
1994 4,340 160
1995 6,340 360
1996 9,700 330
1997 12,340 490
1998 15,040 360

Number of seizures of heroin and quantities in kilograms seized by the police by year 1993 to 2001
Heroin seizures
1999 15,360 1,500
2000 16,120 1,990
2001 18,080 2,800

Source:

Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics, United Kingdom—Supplementary Tables and Findings 202