Written question asked by Betty Williams (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 December 1997. It was answered by George Howarth (Labour) on Monday, 22 December 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to tackle the link between drugs and crime.

Answer: Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to tackle the link between drugs and crime. [20155] Mr George Howarth: A new treatment and testing order, included as one of the measures in the Crime and Disorder Bill, will give courts the power to require drug misusing offenders to undergo treatment. The new order will be rigorously enforced and include the use of drug testing to enable the courts to monitor the progress of offenders at review hearings. In addition, a Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative study is testing the impact of drug treatment interventions in the criminal justice system--from arrest through to sentence and beyond--to refer people with drug problems to drug treatment programmes. Further measures are likely to be recommended by the new United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator as part of his comprehensive review of Government action against drugs, while the Home Office's research programme will continue to shed light on the nature of the links between drugs and crime and to inform action against both.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 20155; 303 c539-40W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Crime Drugs Offenders Misuse Drugs Prevention Initiative UK Anti-drugs Coordinator