HC Deb 03 May 2000 vol 349 cc152-3W
Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total number of(a) convictions and (b) police cautions for possession of cannabis in each year since 1980. [119921]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The information requested for the period 1980 to 1998, the latest year for which figures are currently available, is given in the table. Separate breakdowns are not available for cautions and convictions prior to 1982.

Cautions and convictions for possession of cannabis, UK 1980 to 1999
Number of cautions Number of convictions
1980 1— 212,450
1981 1— 213,074
1982 422 14,856
1983 1,078 16,628
1984 1,948 15,914
1985 3,328 14,885
1986 4,014 12,421
1987 5,747 12,833
1988 8,307 14,921
1989 11,781 18,249
1990 16,282 19,804
1991 19,583 18.874
1992 22,113 15,330
1993 30,871 14,495
1994 39,248 25,850

Cautions and convictions for possession of cannabis, UK 1980 to 1999
Number of cautions Number of convictions
1995 41,155 27,447
1996 38,318 26,636
1997 45,362 32,150
1998 48,480 40,119
1 Not available
2 Total number of cautions and convictions

Source:

Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate