HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 cc482-3W
Lady Hermon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much cash has been seized from convicted drug dealers under Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act; and how much of such cash has been directed into local drugs initiatives. [3238]

Jane Kennedy

In the last 12 months the Royal Ulster Constabulary Drugs Squad has seized and applied for Forfeiture Orders totalling £42,245 under Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This money has been allocated at the discretion of the courts to various charitable and voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland including some allocation to the RUC Drugs Squad to fund drugs education and prevention initiatives.

On occasions, local Drugs Liaison Units from District Commands may have been awarded minor sums by the courts, but currently no central record of the amount involved is maintained. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.