§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside on recent trends in the arrest and prosecution of drug pushers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe chief constable assures me that his officers devote considerable efforts to dealing with those engaged in the unlawful supply of drugs in Merseyside. The available information concerning the number of people proceeded against and sentenced for unlawfully supplying or possession with intent to supply unlawfully controlled drugs in the Merseyside police area. The information for the years 1978–1982 is given in the following table. Figures for 1983 are not yet available.
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Merseyside 1978–1982 Number of persons Type of offence 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Unlawful supply Proceeded against 10 8 11 8 7 Sentenced 3 4 8 4 4 Possession with intent to supply unlawfully Proceeded against 14 10 15 10 16 Sentenced 6 5 2 7 11