§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of interventions through the criminal justice system is for a Class A drug misuser before(a) treatment, (b) a drug treatment and testing order and (c) a prison sentence is imposed. [98150]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthInformation is not available in the form requested. A range of interventions has been developed at key stages in the criminal justice system which seek to identify and engage drug misusers, particularly those using Class A drugs, in order to access them into drug treatment delivered within a community or custodial setting. Pro-active arrest referral schemes, drug treatment and testing orders, and prison treatment services are available throughout England and Wales. Drug testing under the provisions introduced by the
Numbers of people proceeded against for drug offences, England and Wales, 1996–2000 Offence 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Possession1 26,927 33,125 43,516 44,603 40,738 Dealing2 2,148 2,233 3,875 3,644 2,707 Trafficking3 4,067 4,033 5,561 5,021 3,728 1 The term 'possession' refers to those proceeded against for unlawful possession. 2 The term 'dealing' refers to those proceeded against for unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful import/export. 3 The term 'trafficking' refers to those proceeded against for unlawful production, unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful import/export. Source:
Home Office Research, Development, and Statistics.
402WCriminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (including testing after charge and pre-sentence) is being piloted and implemented only in certain areas.
In the Updated Drug Strategy 2002 the Government set out a comprehensive new programme of criminal justice interventions with a view to delivering an integrated "end to end system" aimed at getting drug misusers out of crime into effective treatment.
§ Vernon CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for merging drug action teams and crime reduction partnerships; and if he will make a statement.[98083]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe Police Reform Act, from 1 April 2003, places a statutory responsibility on local authorities, police and others to formulate and implement a drugs strategy mirroring their responsibility for crime and disorder strategies. Multi-agency partnerships are the most effective way of delivering these strategies, but we currently support separate ones for drugs (149 Drug Action Teams in England) and (376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in England and Wales). To reduce burdens on partnerships, ensure they are properly resourced and reduce overlaps in the delivery of community safety, this Government believe that partnerships should be brought together, through merger or, where that is truly not feasible, by developing closer working arrangements.
Many partnerships have merged or will have merged by 1 April 2003. Others, particularly in two tier authorities, are building on already close working relationships, in discussion with Local Strategic Partnerships, where they exist. We expect that, by April 2003, there will have been a complete overhaul in the way partnerships function, and to see improvements in delivery of the National Drug Strategy and local crime and disorder strategies.
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been through the court system for(a) possession, (b) dealing and (c) trafficking of illegal drugs in each of the last five years. [98178]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe numbers of people proceeded against for possession, dealing and trafficking in illegal drugs in England and Wales in the last five available years are shown in the table.
403W
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been to prison for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these people were from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. [98179]
Year1 White Black South Asian Chinese and other Unrecorded Total 1998 6,907 1.783 438 548 0 9,676 1999 6,823 2.054 430 588 6 9,901 2000 6,798 2.189 456 607 5 10,055 2001 6,803 2.611 512 643 6 10,575 2002 6,860 3.511 680 461 8 11,520 1 June for each year Source:
Prison Population Monthly Brief June 2002
1Includes all drug offences
§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug treatment and testing orders have been issued to(a) heroin addicts, (b) crack cocaine addicts and (c) poly-drug users since the scheme began. [98148]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthBetween 1 October 2000 and 31 December 2002 (which is the latest month for which figures are available) 10,525 orders were made. Information relating to the proportion of Drug Treatment and Testing orders issued to heroin, crack or poly-drug users is not available centrally.