The Scottish Government

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE'S ANNUAL REPORT ON DRUG MISUSE

AVAILABILITY

PROGRESS

The percentage of 12-15 year olds offered illegal drugs increased from 41% in 1998 to 47% in 2000. The percentage offered heroin also increased slightly from 5% in 1998 to 7% in 2000. The percentage of people aged 16-24 offered illegal drugs dropped from 46% in 1996 to 33% in 2000. The percentage offered heroin remains static at 4%. As these data are derived from the Scottish Crime Survey, which has a very small sample size, the findings have to be treated with caution.

PROGRESS

Overall drug seizures have decreased by 11% from 17,809 in 1998 to 15,698 in 2000. However, these figures include a significant rise in the number of seizures of Class A drugs over the same period. The number of Class A drugs seized has increased by 33% between 1998 and 2000. The number of heroin seizures has increased by 14% over the same period.

PROGRESS

In 2001, 10,152 offences for possession with intent to supply drugs were recorded by Scottish police forces, compared to 8,514 in 1999, an increase of 19%.

PROGRESS

We have:

• provided the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) with a new HQ building, which was officially opened in June 2002, and which will help accommodate current and future needs of the Agency as it works towards its target of recruiting 200 additional officers by 2003-04
• supported the establishment of a multi-agency Scottish Money Laundering Unit within the SDEA to target the finances behind organised crime in Scotland, assist Scottish police forces in financial investigations and take forward a corporate approach to the identification, seizure and ultimate confiscation of criminal assets
• agreed even tougher targets and objectives for the SDEA who, in its second year, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, achieved the following during 2001-02:
  • a 35% increase in the number of arrests of persons involved in drug trafficking against a target of a 5% increase (172 arrests against a target of 134);
  • a 68% increase in the number of drug seizures, against the target of a 5% increase (84 drug seizures against a target of 53);
  • a 173% increase in the weight of Class A drug seizures, against the target of a 5% increase (205 kilos seized against a target of 79 kilos);

Police use many methods to target drug dealers, including the traditional 'sniffer' dog

• • a 183% increase in the weight of Class B drug seizures, against the target of a 5% increase (1014 kilos seized against a target of 376 kilos);
  • 73 criminals and/or criminal enterprises disrupted or dismantled against a target of 24 criminal and/or criminal enterprises;
  • an 80% increase in the amount of realisable assets identified (1,263,544) against the target of a 5% increase (735,505); and
  • the seizure of controlled drugs, with an estimated combined street value (based on standard purity levels) of 19.9 million, of which 14.3 million relates to Class A drugs
• seen the number of offences recorded by Scottish police forces for supply or possession with intent to supply drugs increase from 9,024 in 2000-01 to 10,135 in 2001-02
• with the UK Government, implemented The Proceeds of Crime Act, which received Royal Assent in July 2002 (it is a major step forward in the battle against drug dealers and other criminals)
• through the Act, now considerably strengthened the powers of confiscation following conviction, introducing a new power of civil recovery for the courts to seize the proceeds of crime even where conviction is not possible, enabling suspected criminal assets to be taxed, and strengthening the existing money-laundering powers (it also gives the police and customs officers tough new investigation powers, including the power to search for, and seize, suspected cash and other assets)
• already embarked on a major implementation programme, which includes strengthening the Criminal Confiscation Unit in the Crown Office, setting up a new Civil Recovery Unit and ensuring that the police are fully trained and resourced to pursue criminal assets across the country - the bulk of the Act will be implemented by February 2003
• expanded the number of drug detection dogs and handlers in Scotland's prisons, clamping down on the supply of drugs to prisoners.

THE FUTURE

We will:

• continue to invest in, and work with, the SDEA in order to sustain its success and the impact its activities are making on drug trafficking and other forms of serious crime in Scotland
• support the greatly enhanced co-ordinated approach by Scottish police forces and law enforcement agencies to the investigation of drug trafficking and other serious and organised crime in Scotland, resulting from the introduction of the Scottish Strategic and Tactical Tasking and Co-ordination Forum
• through the EIU:
  • work with police forces across Scotland, to develop case study sites for the evaluation of police action against local drug markets, which will be completed by the end of 2004; and
  • identify research on co-existing drug misuse and mental illness, and map existing forms of treatment available to dually-diagnosed individuals in Scotland (the precise scope of the work to be undertaken has not yet been determined)
• spend a significant proportion of recovered assets in Scotland (the Scottish Executive has identified drug-related projects as a priority for re-investing this money).

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