§ Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been charged, over the last five years, for drug-related offences in the Stoke Newington division of the Metropolitan police district; and what is the rate of such charges in Stoke Newington relative to other Metropolitan police district divisions;
(2) what is the average length of sentence for those charged and convicted for drug-related offences in the 179W Hackney division of the Metropolitan police district in the last five years; and what is the national average for offences in the same category;
(3) how many of those charged with drug-related offences as a result of the activities of the Stoke Newington division of the Metropolitan police have been found guilty in the last five years;
(4) how many drug-related arrests were made by the Stoke Newington division of the Metropolitan police in the last five years; and what is the rate of such arrests in Stoke Newington relative to other Metropolitan police district divisions.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 18 April 1991]: The information requested, which relates to the Stoke Newington division of the Metropolitan Police district, is contained in the tables below.
Table 1 Persons arrested for, charged with and found guilty of, drug offences: Stoke Newington division of the Metropolitan police (MPD) Number of persons 1986 1987 1988 1989 Arrests1 147 231 246 329 Percentage of all MPD drug arrests1 1.5 2.2 1.6 1.7 Charged1 2 113 173 173 213 Percentage of all charged by MPD with drug offences 1.4 2.3 1.6 1.6 Found guilty 129 93 71 125 Sentenced to immediate custody 43 26 22 29 1Source: Metropolitan police.
2 The number of persons charged, and the number dealt with at court, may not be consistent because a person charged may not appear in court until the following year.
Table 2 Average sentence, length of those sentenced to immediate custody for drug offences: Stoke Newington division of the Metropolitan police (MPD) and United Kingdom national average Months 1986 1987 1988 1989 Stoke Newington division of MPD 31.2 22.3 25.0 21.6 United Kingdom national average 19.8 20.9 21.3 23.6