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18 Dec 2008 : Column 1078W
Screening breath tests by region and year, 1997 to 2006
Region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004( 2) 2005 2006( 1)

East of England

82,700

87,600

74,300

67,600

59,000

53,800

54,000

68,100

84,600

73,600

North West

108,300

102,900

86,800

77,500

59,800

57,700

54,000

63,700

75,500

94,600

North East

47,800

53,800

53,800

46,800

42,800

32,300

27,400

24,000

27,800

26,100

West Midlands

63,400

67,300

52,300

39,900

31,800

29,100

28,200

34,300

34,800

34,700

East Midlands

83,500

95,400

105,000

97,100

82,800

70,500

66,900

69,100

56,600

48,100

Yorkshire and the Humber

54,500

53,700

51,100

53,600

50,100

47,100

41,100

37,600

44,100

48,400

London

141,500

114,700

101,500

94,900

66,200

58,600

57,200

62,200

68,600

66,600

South West

57,100

61,900

58,200

55,800

54,800

53,300

58,400

59,400

56,600

56,900

South East

104,500

117,800

124,200

131,400

128,700

119,500

104,200

110,500

111,700

107,000

Wales

57,100

60,500

57,100

50,300

47,800

48,200

43,000

49,200

47,000

45,700

Total(3)

800,300

815,500

764,500

714,800

623,900

570,200

534,300

578,100

607,400

601,600
(1) Following a comparison between the number of positive breath tests reported by each police force in 2006, and the number of court proceedings for drink/driving related offences, it became clear that there was under-reporting in a number of forces. As a result Essex, Humberside, Lancashire, Norfolk, Northumbria, Staffordshire, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and South Wales court proceedings figures have been substituted for the positive breath test figures. Similar adjustments were also made to various forces data between 1998 and 2005.
(2) Total figure amended from original publication.
(3) Figures may not match totals due to rounding.

Total number of breath tests by result, England and Wales

 Total Tests Total number positive/refused

1997

800,300

103,500

1998

815,500

102,300

1999

764,500

94,100

2000

714,800

94,600

2001

623,900

99,500

2002

570,200

103,500

2003

534,300

106,300

2004(1)

578,100

103,000

2005

607,400

104,300

2006

601,600

105,700

(1 )Following a comparison between the number of positive breath tests reported by each police force in 2006, and the number of court proceedings for drink/driving related offences, it became clear that there was under-reporting in a number of forces. As a result Essex, Humberside, Lancashire, Norfolk, Northumbria, Staffordshire, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and South Wales court proceedings figures have been substituted for the positive breath test figures. Similar adjustments were also made to various forces data between 1998 and 2005.
Note:
Figure amended since original publication.

Drugs: Crime

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the (a) number of acquisitive crimes committed by dependent drug users, (b) the monetary value of goods so stolen and (c) the cost to the public purse arising from police time spent investigating such thefts in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [243292]

Jacqui Smith: (a) No estimate has been made of the total number of acquisitive crimes committed by dependent drug users, although research evidence does indicate that a large proportion of acquisitive crime is related to drug use. It has been estimated that between a third and a half of all acquisitive crime is drug-related (Source: Drug Strategy 2008).

Home Office research shows that a cohort of individuals identified as drug mis-users (testing positive for heroin, cocaine/crack cocaine) following arrest or charge through the Drug Interventions Programme had an average of 8.8 convictions in the three-year period prior to their positive test. (Source: Home Office Research Report 2, Table 6). It is unknown how many of these individuals were drug dependent. It is also unknown how many of the prior convictions were for acquisitive offending.

Other Home Office research shows that where arrestees report (at least) weekly use of heroin and/or crack cocaine, 81 per cent. of them reported committing acquisitive crimes in the year prior to interview, compared to 30 per cent. of non-heroin and/or crack cocaine users. (Source: Table 5.4 Home Office Statistical Bulletin 12/07).

(b) The total value of monetary goods stolen by dependent drug users is not known.

(c) There is no estimate of the cost arising from police time spent investigating such thefts, although estimates are available of the costs to the CJS of Class A drug related crime. The total cost to the criminal justice system was estimated to be around £3.5 billion for the year 2003-04. (Source: Table 3.3, Home Office Online Report 16/06.)

I will arrange for a copy of the documents referred to be sent to you and for a copy to be placed in the Library of both Houses. They can also be located at the following:

Drug Strategy 2008

Home Office Research Report 2

Home Office Online report 16/06

Home Office Statistical Bulletin 12/07

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the level of acquisitive crime associated with drug addiction in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [243293]

Jacqui Smith: No annual estimates are made of the levels of acquisitive crime associated with drug addiction.

It is broadly estimated that between a third and half of acquisitive crime is drug-related(1). Recent Home Office research has found that 81 per cent. of arrestees who used heroin and/or crack cocaine (HC) on at least a weekly basis reported committing acquisitive crimes in the 12 months prior to arrest, in comparison to only 30 per cent. of those arrestees who did not take HC weekly(2). Around two-fifths (39 per cent.) of drug treatment seekers reported committing an acquisitive crime in the four weeks prior to interview. This figure rose in the case of heroin and crack cocaine users, with 55 per cent. reporting that they committed an acquisitive crime in the four weeks before interview(3).

I will arrange for a copy of the documents referred to be sent to you and for a copy to be placed in the Library of both Houses. They can also be located at the following:

Drug Strategy 2008:

Home Office Statistical Bulletin 12/07:

Home Office Research Report 3:

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated research on the relationships between drug dependency, acquisitive crime and the street price of drugs. [243520]


18 Dec 2008 : Column 1079W

Jacqui Smith: The Department has not commissioned or evaluated research on the relationship between drug dependency, acquisitive crime and the street price of drugs.

The Department has commissioned a broad range of research which provides insight into the relationship between drug dependency and offending, and this research is routinely made available on the departmental website at:

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