HC Deb 16 February 1993 vol 219 c138W
Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to prevent the flow of drugs into Northumbria.

Mr. Jack

Drug dealers and traffickers are the subject of investigations by the Northumbria police drug squad and by No. 2 regional crime squad, in liaison with Her Majesty's Customs, and supported by the drugs division of the National Criminal Intelligence Service. Additionally, divisional officers are trained to recognise and deal with drug problems at street level. The outcome in 1992 was a significant increase over 1991 in the number of arrests for drug-related offences in the Blyth area. Northumbria police also give regular briefings on drugs to teachers to assist in informing children of the dangers of drug misuse.

Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convictions in the Northumbrian police area involving under 18-year-olds and in total were for drug-related offences in each year since 1982.

Mr. Jack

The information is given in the table.