D1 Offences and Court proceedings
Key Points
Drug related offences 2006/07
Overview
- In the financial year 2006/07 there were 42,422 drug-related
offences recorded by Scottish police forces, which is a rate of 829
per 100,000 population (Table D1.1).
- Seventy-four percent (31,329) of drug-related offences were for
possession. A further 25% (10,444) were for possession with intent
to supply (Table D1.2)
Five year trends – 2002/03 to 2006/07
- The annual number of drug-related offences recorded by Scottish
police forces has risen by 4% over the 5-year period from 40,938 in
2002/03 to 42,422 in 2006/07. The number of offences rose by 8%
between 2002/03 and 2005/06 to peak at 44,247 and has since dropped
4% to 42,422 in 2006/07 (Table D1.1).
- The rate of drug-related offences recorded rose from 810
offences per 100,000 in 2002/03 to 829 offences per 100,000 in
2006/07 (Table D1.1).
Geographical profile
- In 2006/07 the rate of drug-related offences recorded per
100,000 population was highest in Glasgow City (1,526 per 100,000),
West Dunbartonshire (1,425 per 100,000) and Inverclyde (1,353 per
100,000) (Table D1.1)
- While a few areas saw an overall decrease in the rate of
drug-related offences between 2002/03 and 2006/07, Stirling was the
only area to see a steady decrease over the 5 year period from 882
offences per 100,000 population in 2002/03 to 672 offences per
100,000 population in 2006/07 (Table D1.1).
- The largest decrease in rate of drug-related offences was seen
in East Lothian from 619 offences per 100,000 population in 2002/03
to 305 per 100,000 in 2006/07. The largest increase in rate was
seen in West Dunbartonshire from 1,015 offences per 100,000
population in 2002/03 to 1,425 offences per 100,000 population in
2006/07 (Table D1.1).
Drug-Related Court Proceedings (2005/06)
Overview
Figures are given in Table D1.3 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 D1.4 to
D1.8 for convictions where a drug offence was the main offence (see
background information for further details).
- In 2005/06 there was a total of 9,656 drug offences where the
charge was proved. Of these offences, 2,635 related to Class A
substances, 433 related to Class B substances and 2,681 related to
Class C substances. There were a further 3,907 offences with a
charge proved where the drug type is not recorded in the court
proceedings database (Table D1.3).
- Of the drug offences with a charge proved, 2,344 related to
cannabis, 1,503 to heroin, 633 to ecstasy and 403 to cocaine (Table
D1.3).
- In 2005/06 there were 7,284 convictions for drug offences where
it was the main offence. Of these convictions 2,288 had been
convicted relating to Class A substances, 280 had been convicted
relating to Class B substances and 1,711 had been convicted
relating to Class C substances. There were a further 3,005
convictions where the drug type is not recorded in the court
proceedings database (Table D1.4).
- In 2005/06, men accounted for 86% of convictions for drug
offences, where it was the main offence (Table D1.5).
- Sixty-three percent of the convictions for drug offences, where
it was the main offence, were for people aged 30 years old or under
(Table D1.6).
- Seventy-six percent of convictions for drug offences, where it
was the main offence, were for possession (5,570) and 21% for
possession with intent to supply (1,562) (Table D1.6).
- For convictions of possession, where it was the main offence,
just over three quarters (77%) received a fine, while for
convictions of possession with intent to supply, nearly half (47%)
were given a custodial sentence (Table D1.5).
Five year trends 2001/02 – 2005/06
- In the five year period from 2001/02 to 2005/06, the number of
convictions of possession, where it was the main offence, increased
by 23% from 4,540 to 5,570. The number of convictions for
possession with intent to supply increased by 19% from 1,317 to
1,562 (Table D1.5).
- Between 2001/02 and 2005/06, there has been a decrease in the
percentage of convictions for drug offences which involve people
aged 30 years old and younger (from 71% to 63%) and a corresponding
increase in the percentage of convictions which involve people over
30 years old (from 29% to 37%) (Table D1.6).
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 Government Justice Analytical
Services.
Offences such as possession of drugs, have no victim other than
perhaps the perpetrator and are generally 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 (e.g. 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 Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice
Further statistics on recorded crime are available from the
Scottish Executive website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubRecordedCrime
Further statistics on criminal proceedings are available from
the Scottish Executive website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubCriminalProceedings
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