§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the totals and percentage of those accused of(a) possession of and (b) dealing in cannabis who were (i) found not guilty, (ii) fined and (iii) imprisoned in each of the past five years in each police area. [29139]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe information requested is not available by police force area. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for the United Kingdom are given in the table.
348W
Cannabis offences (possession, 'dealing'), and certain outcomes by type of offence, United Kingdom, 1991–95 Number Year All cases Not guilty Fine Imprisoned Unlawful possession 1991 35,622 2,103 11,514 808 1992 34,706 1,993 8,828 563 1993 48,902 3,095 10,010 584 1994 62,328 3,315 13,358 746 1995 64,516 3,081 13,355 896
Cannabis offences (possession, 'dealing'), and certain outcomes by type of offence, United Kingdom, 1991–95 Number Year All cases Not guilty Fine Imprisoned Possession with intent to supply unlawfully 1991 1,430 235 338 450 1992 1,474 275 291 446 1993 2,460 574 282 630 1994 3,072 688 351 825 1995 3,532 781 299 1,031 Unlawful supply 1991 1,194 163 262 337 1992 1,073 175 197 276 1993 1,679 455 191 358 1994 1,889 408 190 429 1995 2,198 503 220 541 Note:
'Dealing' has been taken to mean possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful supply.
Source:
Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate, Crime and Criminal Justice Unit.
Cannabis offences (possession, 'dealing'), and certain outcomes by type of offence, United Kingdom, 1991–95 Per cent. Year All cases Not guilty Fine Imprisoned Unlawful possession 1991 100 6 32 2 1992 100 6 25 2 1993 100 6 20 1 1994 100 5 21 1 1995 100 5 21 1 Possession with intent to supply unlawfully 1991 100 16 24 31 1992 100 19 20 30 1993 100 23 11 26 1994 100 22 11 27 1995 100 22 8 29 Unlawful supply 1991 100 14 22 28 1992 100 16 18 26 1993 100 27 11 21 1994 100 22 10 23 1995 100 23 10 25 Note:
'Dealing' has been taken to mean possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful supply.
Source:
Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate, Crime and Criminal Justice Unit.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of those fined for cannabis offences in the past four years were fined(a) the maximum the law allows, (b) 50 per cent. or less of the maximum and (c) 10 per cent. or less of the maximum. [29135]
§ Mr. George HowarthThis information is not available in the form requested since there is no limit in theory to the amount of fine which may be imposed. However, information relating to the number of fines 349W imposed for cannabis offences by various amount bands is routinely published. Data for 1991–95 (the latest available) are given in the table.
Persons fined for cannabis offences by amount of fine, United Kingdom, 1991–95 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 £5 and under 28 19 42 27 24 Over £5 up to and including £10 80 72 115 89 89 Over £10 up to and including £20 266 568 2,261 335 303 Over £20 up to and including £50 5,745 4,334 4,084 5,898 5,537 Over £50 up to and including £100 4,852 3,487 3,332 5,756 6,055 Over £100 up to and including £200 1,447 1,179 1,126 2,570 2,774 Over £200 up to and including £500 404 365 245 534 614 Over £500 up to and including £1,000 48 36 57 74 45 Over £1,000 10 17 21 21 17 Average amount of fine(£) 85 86 76 92 92 Total 12,880 10,077 11,383 15,304 15,458 Notes:
Cannabis offences comprise production or cultivation of cannabis plants, possession, possession with intent to supply unlawfully, supply, offering to supply, or being concerned in supply, and permitting premises to be used for unlawful purposes.
Source:
Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate, Crime and Criminal Justice Unit.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total annual cost of imprisonment of those convicted of possessing or dealing in cannabis in each of the past five years. [29137]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe cost of imprisonment for those convicted of possessing or dealing cannabis is not calculated separately from other offenders. The available information gives an average cost per place in cash terms for all prisoners. This is shown in table A. Table B provides information on immediate custodial sentences handed down in England and Wales for offences of possession or unlawful supply of cannabis. This is available only for the five year period commencing 1991.
Average cost per prisoner place 1991–92 to 1996–97 Year Average cost per place £ 1992–93 22,723 1993–94 23,080 1994–95 23,391 1995–96 24,178 1996–97 24,271 350W
Number of immediate custodial sentences for possession and unlawful supply of cannabis 1991–95 Year Possession Offence Possession with intent to supply unlawfully Unlawful supply 1991 681 374 295 1992 467 376 242 1993 501 546 325 1994 652 724 383 1995 806 967 480