Written question asked by John Cummings (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 December 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 December 1999. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 December 1999 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions there have been for drug related offences in the Peterlee and Seaham police sub-division in each year since 1995. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there have been for drug-related offences in the Peterlee and Seaham police sub-division in each year since 1995. [101424] Mr. Charles Clarke: Data are collected on drug offences only, not on offences which may have been committed owing to drug taking. Nor can information be provided at police sub-division level. There is readily available information on proceedings in the Easington Petty Sessional Division for possession of class B drugs. (These drugs are essentially cannabis and amphetamines, and probably account for about 80 per cent. of all drug offences.) In 1995, out of the 25 persons proceeded against in the magistrates court, 22 were sentenced by that court; none were committed for trial to the Crown court. The following year, 1996, 35 out of 39 proceeded against were sentenced by the magistrates court; one person was committed for trial. In 1997, the latest year for which published data are available, 15 out of 18 proceeded against were sentenced in the lower court, while two were committed for trial.

Secondary information