§ 22. Mr. Cyril D. TownsendTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges for possession of the drug crack have been brought in the Metropolitan police area; and what new initiatives he will take to deal with this threat.
§ Mr. MacleanInformation is not held in this form. Records are not kept of the numbers of charges for possession.
The latest available figures, supplied by the Metropolitan police, show that there were 542 recorded offences of possession of cocaine in the period October 1993 to September 1994. There are no separate records for crack. Seizures are, however, recorded separately: provisional figures show 847 crack seizures in the Metropolitan police area for 1994.
The Government's strategy for dealing with drugs misuse is currently being reviewed and a White Paper will be published in the spring. Vigorous law enforcement will continue and there will also he a new emphasis on drug education and prevention.