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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the percentage of crime linked to drug misuse in (a) Birmingham, (b) Bristol, (c) Leeds, (d) Liverpool, (e) Manchester, (f) Newcastle, (g) Nottingham and (h) Sheffield in the last 12 months. [214017] Caroline Flint: Recorded crime figures are used to measure the extent of crime in local areas. Although these include statistics on drugs offences--such as possession--and on property crimes--such as burglary--they do not contain information on the offender's drug habits. It is therefore not possible to estimate from these statistics the percentage of all crime which is linked to the need to support a drug habit. However, since April 2003 offenders charged in certain areas with certain offences known to be commonly committed by drug users have been tested for opiates (heroin) and cocaine/crack as part of the Drug Interventions Programme. The following table summarises the total number of offenders tested, and the numbers and percentages of those testing positive for opiates or crack/cocaine between January and December 2004 in the 47 DATs that operate drug testing on charge as part of the Drug Interventions Programme. This gives some indication of the proportion of property crime that may be linked to drug use, although it should be noted that not all crime by drug users is necessarily committed to support their habit. Summary table of drug testing results January--December 2004 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Area Numbers tested Numbers testing positive Percentage testing positive Birmingham 3,808 1,696 45 Bristol 1,734 1,066 61 Leeds 4,309 2,002 46 Liverpool 2,634 1,516 58 Manchester 3,440 1,484 43 Newcastle 1,293 434 34 Nottingham 3,221 1,701 53 Sheffield 1,874 917 49 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: DIP Monthly Monitoring Reports

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

214017; 431 c1100W;431 c1096W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Crime Birmingham Bristol Drugs Greater Manchester Leeds Misuse Newcastle upon Tyne Nottingham Liverpool Sheffield

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk