C Drugs and criminal justice
C1 Offences and court proceedings
Key Points
Drug-related Offences 2005 Overview
- In 2005 there were 43,150 drug-related offences recorded by Scottish police forces, which is a rate of 847 per 100,000 population (Table C1.1).
- 78% (33,685) of drug-related offences were for possession. A further 21% (8,918) were for possession with intent to supply (Table C1.2).
Five year trends — 2001 to 2005
- The annual number of drug-related offences recorded has risen by 19% over the period 2001 to 2005, from 36,175 to 43,150. The number of offences rose by 10% between 2001 and 2002, remaining relatively stable in 2003 before rising by 5% in 2004 and by another 2% in 2005 (Table C1.1).
- The rate of drug related offences recorded rose from 716 offences per 100,000 population in 2001 to 847 offences per 100,000 in 2005 (Table C1.1).
Geographical profile
- In 2005 the rate of drug-related offences recorded per 100,000 population was highest in Glasgow City (1,796), West Dunbartonshire (1,143) and Inverclyde (1,140) (Table C1.1).
- While a few areas saw an overall decrease between 2001 and 2005, Stirling was the only area to see a steady decrease, falling from 973 offences recorded per 100,000 population to 696 offences per 100,000 population, and in the majority of areas the rate of offences recorded per 100,000 population increased between 2001 and 2005 (Table C1.1).
Drug-related Court Proceedings 2004/05
Overview
Figures are given in Table C1.3 for all drug offences where the charge was proved in court (including where the drugs offence was a main offence or a secondary offence) and in Tables C1.4 to C1.8 for convictions where a drug offence was the main offence (see background information for further details).
- In 2004/05 there were a total of 10,033 drug offences where the charge was proved. Of these offences 2,790 related to Class A substances, 1,522 related to Class B substances and 1,866 related to Class C substances. There were a further 3,855 offences with a charge proved where the drug type is not recorded in the court proceedings database (Table C1.3).
- 2,705 of the drug offences with a charge proved were related to cannabis, 1,626 to heroin, 680 to ecstasy and 377 to cocaine (Table C1.3).
- In 2004/05 there were 7,472 convictions for drug offences where it was the main offence. Of these convictions 2,334 had been convicted relating to Class A substances, 1,021 had been convicted relating to Class B substances and 1,156 had been convicted relating to Class C substances. There were a further 2,961 convictions where the drug type is not recorded in the court proceedings database (Table C1.4).
- 1,774 of the convictions where it was the main offence related to cannabis, 1,361 related to heroin, 581 related to ecstasy and 311 related to cocaine (Table C1.4).
- Men accounted for 86% of convictions for drug offences, where it was the main offence (Table C1.5).
- 66% of the convictions for drug offences, where it was the main offence, were people aged 30 years or under (Table C1.6).
- 76% of convictions for drug offences, where it was the main offence, were for possession (5,713) and 22% for possession with intent to supply (1,637) (Table C1.6).
- For convictions of possession, where it was the main offence, just over three quarters (76%) received a fine, while for convictions of possession with intent to supply nearly half (46%) were given a custodial sentence (Table C1.5).
Five year trends — 2000/1 to 2004/5
- From 2000/01 to 2004/05 the number of convictions of drug offences, where it was the main offence, has risen by over 40% from 5,277 in 2000/01 to 7,472 in 2004/05 (Table C1.5).
- Between 2000/01 and 2004/05 there has been a small increase in the percentage of female convictions, from 12% to 14% and corresponding decrease in the percentage of male convictions, from 88% to 86% (Table C1.5).
Background information
The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also, a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.
Recorded crime
Statistics on drug-related offences recorded by the police are available from quarterly statistical returns made by the Scottish police forces to the Scottish Executive Justice Department.
Offences such as possession of drugs, have no victim other than perhaps the perpetrator and are discovered and recorded as a result of police activity rather than by being reported to the police by the public. Hence the strength and deployment of the police forces mainly determine the numbers of such offences recorded.
Criminal proceedings in Scottish Courts
Statistics on persons convicted for drug-related offences are available from the Scottish Executive Justice Department’s court proceedings database. The data is derived from information held on the police operational computer at the Scottish Criminal Record office (SCRO).
Offences are recorded in the year in which the offender was sentenced, which may not necessarily be the year in which the offence was committed. Persons convicted refers to the number of convictions at separate proceedings, therefore an individual who has been proceeded against and convicted more than once in a year will be included more than once in the figures. Where a person is proceeded against for more than one crime or offence, the main offence is identified (i.e. the one with the severest penalty). Where a table refers only to the main offence there may be other offences which were included in the same proceedings but are not reported on. Figures referring to drug offences with a charge proved include all drug offences. Of the drug offences with a charge proved some will be the main offence and others will be a secondary offence to either another more serious drug offence, or to another more serious type of offence (eg. serious assault). Where a person has more than one offence with a charge proved in the same proceedings this will count as one conviction, therefore the number of offences with a charge proved may not be equal to the number of convictions.
Further information
Information on recorded crime and criminal proceedings is available from the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice
Further statistics on recorded crime are available from the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubRecordedCrime
Further statistics on criminal proceedings are available from the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubCriminalProceedings
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