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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Drug figures indicate big rise in cocaine use
Alan Travis The Guardian
Wednesday 07 Dec 2005 More evidence of the growing popularity of cocaine in Britain came yesterday with the publication of official figures showing that a record 8,070 offenders were dealt with last year for possessing the drug - a rise of 16%. The annual drug offences figures show the number of people dealt with for class A drug offences by the police reached a new peak of 36,350 - up 2% on 2003 - although this masks significant falls in the numbers dealt with for heroin and ecstasy offences. The official Home Office figures track the rise in the popularity of cocaine, with 1,570 offenders recorded in 1994, 2,880 in 1997 and 8,070 in 2004. Overall, the number of drug offenders found guilty or formally cautioned by the police fell from 110,400 in 2003 to 89,820 in 2004 as the reclassification of cannabis from a class B to a class C drug was implemented. The change means most of those caught in possession of small amounts of cannabis face confiscation and an informal warning. The number found guilty or given a formal caution for cannabis possession fell from 82,060 in 2003 to 49,840 last year. A Home Office spokesman claimed that the figures showing a rise in cocaine and other class A offenders were an indication of successful police enforcement activity: "The government's strategy is to focus on the drugs which cause the most harm and deal robustly with those who supply them."
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