§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the level of Customs and Excise manpower available at airports and seaports to carry out drug searches and seizures in the British Isles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 25 March 1986]: The level of Customs and Excise manpower is kept under constant review. The Government give a very high priority to the fight against drugs smuggling, and there has been a large increase in the number of Customs preventive officers, whose main priority is drugs detection. At 31 March 1986 it is estimated that there will be 3,000 preventive officers compared with 2,721 two years earlier; and a further 300 preventive officers will be appointed during the course of 1986–87. Additionally, the number of specialist drugs investigators has more than doubled since 1979, from 121 to 262 (estimated) at 31 March 1986; and a further 35 are to be added in 1986–87.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentage of passengers at airports and seaports in the British Isles who are checked on a random basis for the possession of drugs.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 25 March 1986]: The preventive checks made upon incoming passengers at airports and seaports are to detect the illegal importation of a wide range of goods including, for example, those liable to Customs and Excise duties, prohibited animals, firearms and drugs.
The percentage of passengers checked varies from place to place and from time to time and it is not possible therefore to give a reliable estimate of the overall figure.