§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug cases were dealt with in magistrates courts in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [50876]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe available information, from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, provided in the table, shows the number of defendants proceeded against in magistrates courts within the Metropolitan police area for drug offences by outcome in the years 1998 to 2000.
Information on court proceedings for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
892W
Number of defendants1 proceeded against in magistrates courts in the Metropolitan police area by outcome, 1998–2000 Type of drug offences All types of which: Class A Defendants proceeded against 1998 11,312 3,729 1999 11,280 4,200 2000 10,387 4,205 Percentage of: Proceedings terminated early 1998 10.7 11.7 1999 10.5 11.3 2000 11.1 11.6
Number of defendants1 proceeded against in magistrates courts in the Metropolitan police area by outcome, 1998–2000 Type of drug offences All types of which: Class A Defendants acquitted 1998 0.3 0.3 1999 0.3 0.3 2000 0.3 0.3 Defendants convicted 1998 17.2 31.4 1999 15.5 27.3 2000 16.3 28.9 Defendants committed for trial 1998 71.8 56.6 1999 73.7 61.1 2000 72.2 59.1 1 For which a drug offence was the principal offence