§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the convictions arising out of the unlawful possession or use of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, what percentage of the cases involved members of the West Indian community.
§ Mr. RaisonIn 1979, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 10,535 convictions in the United Kingdom for the offence of unlawful possession of cannabis. Information is not available centrally for assessing the proportion of these convictions which involved members of the West Indian community.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the following figures for Bedfordshire (a) the number of convictions for the unlawful possession or use of cannabis, (b) the age group in possession or using the same, (c) whether any particular ethnic group is involved and (d) of the suppliers who have been convicted, whether any ethnic groups have been involved.
§ Mr. RaisonIn 1979, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were in the Bedfordshire police force area 45 convictions for the offence of unlawful possession of cannabis and five convictions for offences of unlawful supply of cannabis or possession with intent to supply cannabis unlawfully. Information on the ages of offenders could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information is not available centrally to assess the extent of the involvement of particular ethnic groups.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of experience in Bristol and elsewhere, it has been established that prohibiting the use of cannabis has been a source of tension between the police and the West Indian community.
§ Mr. MayhewThe legal prohibition of the use of cannabis may well have been a source of tension between the police and the West Indian community, but chief officers of police are fully aware of the need to enforce the law impartially.