§ Mr. Terry Fieldsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside as to (a) how many police officers are employed on Merseyside to deal specifically with drug abuse, (b) how many officers are employed to deal with the increase in heroin sales and abuse, (c) how many arrests of drug dealers have taken place in each of the years 1979 to 1983 and (d) what was the conviction rate of arrested drug dealers in the years 1979 to 1983; what were the average levels of punishment in those years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe chief constable of Merseyside has provided us with the following information:
(a) All Merseyside officers may deal with drugs offences but the following are specifically deployed to deal with the more serious offences and to act in an advisory capacity:
- 1 Detective chief inspector
- 1 Detective inspector
- 5 Detective sergeants
- 5 Detective constables
(b) There is no specialisation within the force in offences involving heroin.
(c) Figures for arrests for trafficking in controlled drugs for each of the years requested we as follows (figures for 1979 are not available):
Number of arrests 1980 60 1981 48 1982 61 1983 (to 30th 55 June (d) The number of convictions for the arrests listed in (c) above are as follows (figures for 1979 and 1980 are not available): 11W
Number 1981 44 1982 55 1983 (to 30th 48 June) Figures for levels of punishment for the above convictions are not available in the form requested. Information for the years 1981 to 1983 is however available as follows:
Court disposal 1981 1982 1983 (to 30th June) Fine (up to £500) 33 28 11 Imprisonment: Suspended 2 8 7 0–12 months 4 7 6 12 months-2 years 0 4 5 2–5 years 2 2 6 6–10years 0 1 6 Other disposal 3 5 7 Total 44 55 48