§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug-related murders and manslaughters there have been on Merseyside in each year since 1995. [99434]
§ Mr. Charles Clarke[holding answer 23 November 1999]: Information, corroborated by the Merseyside police, shows that there was one homicide involving drugs on Merseyside in 1995, three in 1996, three in 1997 and one in 1998.
Homicides involving drugs are so coded if the narrative of events supplied by the police to the Home Office mentions that (i) the suspect was reported to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the offence or (ii) the homicide was motivated by the need to obtain drugs, or money to buy drugs or is drug related in some other way, such as rivalry between dealers, etc.