Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')
As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.
You asked:
This request relates to the following offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971:
i. Possession of cannabis
ii. Possession of cannabis with intent to supply
iii. Supply of cannabis
iv. Cultivation of cannabis
For each of these offences, separately, please supply the following data for the periods: 2016/2017, 2015/2016, 2014/2015, 2013/2014, 2012/2013, 2011/2012, 2010/ 2011, 2009/2010, 2008/2009, 2007/2008, 2006/2007
The total number of warnings issued to individuals aged over 18
The total number of warnings issued to individuals aged under 18
The total number of fines given to individuals aged over 18
The total number of fines given to individuals aged under 18
The total number of cautions issued to individuals aged over 18
The total number of cautions issued to individuals aged under 18
The total number of arrests of individuals aged over 18
The total number of arrests of individuals aged under 18
The total number of charges pressed against individuals aged over 18
The total number of charges pressed against individuals aged under 18
The total number of prosecutions brought against individuals aged over 18
The total number of prosecutions brought against individuals aged under 18
The total number of community disposals given to individuals aged over 18
The total number of community disposals given to individuals aged under 18
In Response:
We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.
Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Corporate Development Department of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police.
Methodology for searches made and caveats regarding the information provided are below and should be noted when considering the resulting response:
A count of all disposals given between 01/04/2008 and 31/03/2017 for the relevant offences has been provided. This may include the same person multiple times if they have been given multiple disposals for the relevant offences during the time period. We do not have data in a searchable format prior to April 2008. Disposals are up to date as of the end of the financial year they are referring to.
Disposals have been grouped for the purpose of this FOI -
Warnings include first instance, second warning, warning after reprimand and cannabis warning
Caution include 1st and 2nd youth cautions, youth conditional caution, simple caution and conditional caution
A count of all arrests which have occurred between 01/04/2006 and 31/03/2017 for the relevant offences are included. The disposals given may not be as a result of these arrests. A person may be arrested for the one of the relevant offences but then their disposal may relate to a different offence. Also a person may be given a disposal without being arrested.
As a result of the reclassification of cannabis to a Class B drug from 26 January 2009, the codes for recording cannabis offences by the police and the courts for Home Office statistical purposes were changed. We have included a table to show which codes are included on the summary sheet.
Data for prosecutions should be sourced from the Court system
If you decide to write an article / use the enclosed data we would expect that you to take into consideration the factors highlighted above so as not to mislead members of the public or official bodies or misrepresent the relevance of the whole or any part of this disclosed material.
With the above noted please see the attached.
Files
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FOI 198-18 - Crimes - involving cannabis
