Drugs (Hansard, 25 July 1990)

§ Mr. Knowles
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the seventh report from the Home Affairs Committee 1989–90 Session and the sixth (interim) report from the Home Affairs Committee, 1989–90 Session, on drugs.

§ Mr Waddington
The Government response is published today to the seventh report from the Home Affairs Committee on drug trafficking and related serious crime (HC 370) and to the sixth (interim) report "Crack: the threat of hard drugs in the next decade" (HC 356). Copies of the response (Cm 1164) have been placed in the Library.
As the response makes clear, we are very grateful to the Committee for the helpful and constructive nature of its reports and for the recommendations it has made. We have already acted on many of the recommendations.
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We take a very serious view of the threat from cocaine in the form of crack, highlighted by the Committee in its interim report. We have reviewed our drugs strategy to ensure that it addresses the threat as fully and effectively as possible and measures have already been announced—notably the Home Office drugs prevention initiative—to help tackle it. We have also commissioned a major three-year research study on cocaine and "crack" prevalence looking at the extent and patterns of misuse and trends in misuse over time.
We share the Committee's view that strong action should be taken to combat money laundering and to deprive drug traffickers of their ill-gotten gains. A working group has been set up, as proposed by the Committee, to examine the potential for improving the operation of the confiscation and money laundering provisions of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.
We also share the Committee's view that international co-operation is vital in combating illicit trafficking in drugs and bringing those involved to justice. Enactment of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 will enable the United Kingdom to ratify both the 1988 United Nations convention against the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and the 1957 European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters, as recommended by the Committee. The Act also provides powers, proposed by the Committee, for Customs officers to detain cash which may represent the proceeds of drug trafficking.
The Government share the Committee's total opposition to the "legalisation" of drugs, together with its view that, while law enforcement must remain a vital part of the strategy for tackling drug misuse, this must be accompanied by effective measures to reduce the demand for drugs.

§ Mr. Rathbone
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Lewes,Official Report, column 323, on 12 July, what information on drug shipments or drug seizures from illegal trafficking from European countries or from other countries is shared with the United Kingdom's European partners and with international organisations; and what limitations are applied to such information transferred.

§ Mr. Waddington
There are extensive and increasing exchanges of intelligence and operational information between United Kingdom Customs and police services and those of our European partners, and of other countries with which we have co-operation arrangements, about illicit drugs shipments. Where possible, the information is channelled through drug liaison officers or via Interpol, but in cases of urgency there may be direct contact between operational commanders in the countries concerned. Drug seizures are reported by the United Kingdom Customs and police to Interpol, which publishes annual statistics. In addition, Customs seizures are reported to the Customs Co-operation Council which, as well as producing annual statistics, issues bi-monthly bulletins notifying member states of major seizures, smuggling concealments and drug trends.
The provision of such information is governed by the United Nations conventions of 1961 and 1971 relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; the Naples convention of 1967 for the provision of mutual assistance between states; the Nairobi convention of 1977 for the 265W provision of mutual international administration assistance for the prevention, investigation and repression of Customs offences; and bilateral memoranda of understanding. The sharing of such information is limited by considerations of public policy, data protection and the interests of justice.