§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the increase in the number of crimes in the last year which were related to illegal drugs. [121556]
369W
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe statistical data are collected on drug offences but not on other offences which may have been committed due to drug taking. In the 12 months ending September 1999, the police in England and Wales recorded 129,782 notifiable drug offences, a decrease of 9.2 per cent. on the corresponding period in the previous year.
A programme of research carried out on behalf of the Home Office by the University of Cambridge, involving the drug testing of arrestees, indicates a strong connection between drug misuse, particularly heroin and crack/cocaine, and crime. The research suggests that about one third of all property crime is committed in order to buy these drugs. Further data are being analysed and it is hoped to publish the next set of full results in the summer.