§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of property crime in the United Kingdom has been committed by(a) heroin users, (b) tranquilliser users and (c) cannabis users in each of the last 10 years. [140378]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeFigures are not collected centrally on the extent to which property crime in the United Kingdom is committed by different types of drug user. However, the Home Office's programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees provides some insight into this issue. The latest findings report on research undertaken at four sites (in London, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sunderland).
Over two-thirds of arrestees (69 per cent.) tested positively for at least one drug (excluding alcohol). Arrestees were asked if they had committed any property crimes over the last 12 months. Half of all arrestees admitted to at least one such crime. However, the likelihood of committing property crime rose for those arrestees who stated they were using cocaine/crack (53 per cent.); heroin (61 per cent.); or heroin together with cocaine/crack (87 per cent.).
The links between drug use and crime are outlined in the report from which these figures are drawn (Home Office Research Study 205, Drugs and Crime: The results of the second developmental stage of the NEW-ADAM programme). Copies of this publication are available from the Library.