§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of a possible link between consumption of soft drugs and subsequent addiction to hard drugs. [134533]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeIt is undoubtedly the case that most users of Class A drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, started off by using so called soft drugs, normally cannabis. But establishing a causal link is extremely difficult because of a range of compounding factors such as socio-economic background; family functioning; adolescent risk taking behaviour and delinquency; and peer affiliations. But even allowing for these factors there is increasing evidence of a causal link. For example, research from New Zealand published last year concluded that, even allowing for a wide range of compounding factors, regular cannabis users (50 times a year) had a 59.2 times higher risk of using other illicit drugs than non cannabis users.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of cannabis possession in each of the last three years. [134538]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeAvailable information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table.
431W
Number of offenders convicted1 at all courts in England and Wales for possession of cannabis, 1997–992 Convictions 1997 17,275 1998 22,643 19992 22,623 1Where principal offence only 2Provisional
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union about their approach to soft drugs; [134534]
(2) what assessment he has made of the approach of the Dutch Government to soft drugs. [134535]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeWe have regular discussions with counterparts in the European Union covering a wide range of issues relating to comparative drug policies and practices. One of the outcomes is the European Union Drug Strategy for 2000–04.
Where Dutch policy is markedly different is in relation to their attempts to separate the markets for so called soft drugs, and drugs such as heroin and cocaine. The most obvious example of this is the Dutch policy towards the sale and possession of cannabis for personal use through the system of "coffee shops". Such a policy, whereby use of cannabis remains illegal but the laws are not enforced, cannot be a model for the United Kingdom; nor have I seen any evidence that it would be desirable to follow this example.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the proportion of violent crime which is(a) drug-related and (b) alcohol-related. [134997]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeStatistical data are not collected on offences which may have been committed while an offender is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, both the British Crime Survey and the NEW-ADAM programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees shed some light on the links between drugs, alcohol and crime.
The 2000 British Crime Survey reported that 40 per cent. of victims of violent crime believed their attacker was under the influence of alcohol, while 18 per cent. believed that the perpetrator was under the influence of drugs.
The Home Office has commissioned research by the University of Cambridge to continue the NEW-ADAM programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees. The second report on this research was published in August 2000 (Home Office Research Study 205, Drugs and Crime: The results of the second developmental stage of the NEW-ADAM programme).
The research, which was undertaken at four sites (in London, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sunderland), found that over two thirds of arrestees (69 per cent.) tested positively for at least one drug (excluding alcohol) and 20 per cent. tested positive for alcohol. In terms of specific violent offences, of the 41 individuals arrested for assault 61 per cent. tested positive for a drug and 32 per cent. for alcohol; of the 18 individuals arrested for breach of the peace 33 per cent. tested positive for a drug and 61 per cent. for alcohol.
It should be remembered that because an arrestee tested positive for alcohol or drugs or a victim believed that a perpetrator was under the influence of drugs or alcohol it does not necessarily mean that the consumption of alcohol or drugs caused the crime to be committed. As a result, while the NEW-ADAM study and the British Crime Survey advance our knowledge of the links between 432W drugs, alcohol and crime, it will always be difficult to calculate a single percentage figure calculating precisely what proportion of crime is alcohol or drug-related.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the extent of the sale and use of illegal drugs in Worcestershire. [134510]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeIt is the responsibility of local Drug Action Teams to assess the extent of drug misuse in their area and to plan and implement action to tackle the problem. I understand that the Worcestershire Drug Action Team commissioned a survey which reported on young people's perceptions of drug use in 1997–98. 73 per cent. of those sampled were between 14 and 16 years old. 53 per cent. of the sample said they had been offered drugs. 31 per cent. were offered drugs by a friend. 39 per cent. of those who were offered drugs accepted the offer.
Nationally, the extent of drug misuse among the population aged 16 to 59 is measured through the British Crime Survey (BCS), which includes a self-report element on drug misuse. The findings focus particularly on those aged 16 to 29.The BCS includes a regional, but not county-level, breakdown of statistics. In the 1998 survey—the latest available—21 per cent. of respondents aged 16 to 29 in the Midlands region had used any drug in the last year.
Drug misuse among young teenagers is measured by a schools survey among secondary school children aged 11 to 15. Interim findings from the 1999 schools survey were published in May 2000. Nationally, 12 per cent. of pupils aged 11 to 15 had used any drug in the last year. The interim findings do not include a regional breakdown.
The Government will publish, early in 2001, the results of a Key Informant Survey which will contribute to baseline estimates for the availability of drugs as perceived by practitioners in Drug Action Teams and police forces.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of violent assaults on the person that are(a) alcohol-related and (b) drug-related. [134539]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeStatistical data are not collected on offences which may have been committed while an offender is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, both the British Crime Survey (BCS) and the NEW-ADAM programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees shed some light on the links between drugs, alcohol and crime.
The 2000 British Crime Survey reported that 40 per cent. of victims of violent crime believed their attacker was under the influence of alcohol while 18 per cent. believed that the perpetrator was under the influence of drugs.
The Home Office has commissioned research by the University of Cambridge to continue the NEW-ADAM programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees. The second report on this research was published in August 2000 (HORS 205, Drugs and Crime: The results of the second developmental stage of the NEW-ADAM programme).
433WThe research, which was undertaken at four sites (in London, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sunderland), found over two thirds of arrestees (69 per cent.) tested positively for at least one drug (excluding alcohol) and 22 per cent. tested positive for alcohol. In terms of specific violent offences, of the 41 individuals arrested for assault, 61 per cent. tested positive for a drug and 32 per cent. for alcohol; of the 18 individuals arrested for breach of the peace, 33 per cent. tested positive for a drug and 61 per cent. for alcohol.
It is important to note that the BCS data rely on the victim's perception of whether or not alcohol or drugs were present at the time of the incident. The NEW-ADAM research is currently based on a small example which is geographically confined. It should also be noted that 29 per cent. of the available NEW-ADAM sample were not interviewed because they were thought to be intoxicated with alcohol. The BCS and NEW-ADAM survey advance our knowledge of the links between drugs, alcohol and crime. However, they do not provide a definite answer as to whether or not the presence of alcohol or drugs have caused a particular crime.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the profits made by drug-dealers trading in(a) soft and (b) hard drugs. [135016]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeWithin the major research programme that underpins our 10-year national Drugs Strategy, there are two current research projects that will give us a better understanding of the economics of drug dealing. One project is attempting to size the United Kingdom drug market and estimate total expenditure, based on a consumption analysis. Another is looking at the middle levels of the United Kingdom drug market (i.e. between importer and street dealer level), to improve our understanding of secondary drug distribution in the United Kingdom. The results of both pieces of research will be published next year.