Written question asked by Lord Harper (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 July 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Crime: Rural Areas

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an assessment of the potential relationship between rural crime and the use of ketamine.

Answer: No assessment has been made between rural crime and the use of Ketamine.Ketamine is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Government’s message is clear that it is harmful and should not be taken. All drugs are harmful and cause significant and wide ranging problems for individuals, families and communities from health harms (such as HIV or drug related deaths) to drug-related crime and associated antisocial behaviour and the fear that this causes. It is estimated that between a third and a half of all acquisitive crime is drug-related.The Government’s new Drug Strategy clearly sets out our aim that we want fewer and fewer people to start using drugs and that the Government want a society free of the problems caused by drugs.

Secondary information