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The two main enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland are the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. From their figures, it is possible to get a picture of the probable supply of illicit drugs in Northern Ireland, especially in terms of trends over time.

View further drug statistics and monthly updates at: www.psni.police.uk/index/statistics_branch/pg_drugs_stats.htm

PSNI drugs seizures and arrest statistics

The following information on drug seizures and arrests is taken from the annual statistical report on drug seizures and arrests from the Police Service of Northern Ireland 2007-2008.¹

The street value of drugs seized for 2007/08 was £5.5 million. This is a decrease on figures for 2006/07 when the street value of seized drugs was £22.5 million.

A total of 2,968 drug seizure incidents were recorded in 2007/08, an increase of of 14.6% on 2006/07. As in previous years, cannabis was the drug most commonly seized.

Class A seizures

The number of seizures involving class A drugs increased by 19.8% from 713 seizure incidents in 2006/07 to 854 in 2007/08.

Ecstasy accounted for the greatest number of class A seizure incidents. The number of ecstasy tablets seized more than doubled, 244,720 seized in 2007/08 compared with 118,708 in 2006/07.

Despite an increase in the number of cocaine powder seizures (278 in 2006/07 compared with 405 in 2007/08), the amount of cocaine powder seized decreased from 36.1kg in 2006/07 to 17.9kg in 2007/08.

Class B seizures

The number of seizures involving class B drugs decreased by 29.3% from 205 seizure incidents in 2006/07 to 145 in 2007/08.

There were fewer seizures of amphetamine powder (188 in 2006/07 compared with 132 in 2007/08) and the amount of amphetamine powder seized decreased from 18.0kg in 2006/07 to 12.7kg in 2007/08.

Class C (cannabis) seizures

Seizures of cannabis increased by 16.1% from 1,911 in 2006/07 to 2,219 in 2007/08.

While there was an increase in the number of seizures of cannabis resin, there was a substantial decrease in the amount of cannabis resin seized from 3,683.5kg in 2006/07 to 78.2kg in 2007/08. However, the 2006/07 total includes the largest ever seizure of cannabis resin in Northern Ireland, with 3.5 tonnes seized in the Ards area in October 2006.

Seizures of herbal cannabis have increased by 66.9% from 486 seizures in 2006/07 to 811 in 2007/08. The amount of herbal cannabis seized has also increased (26.6kg in 2006/07 compared with 70.1kg in 2007/08).

There was an increase in the number of cannabis plants seized with 4,006 cannabis plants seized in 2007/08 compared with 1,448 seized in 2006/07.

Arrests and charges

The number of people arrested for drug-related offences increased by 9.8% from 1,726 in 2006/07 to 1,896 in 2007/08.

Drug seizures and number of arrests from 1994-2007/08

Seizure incidents and arrests by district command unit 2002/03-2007/08

Drug offences in Northern Ireland

Previously, information on drug offences proceeded against in court was supplied by the PSNI and related to each financial year. Control of these figures has now been transferred to the Statistics and Research Branch of the Northern Ireland Office, who categorise the data to reflect the calendar year in line with Home Office reporting on court statistics.

Drug offences recorded 1996/97-2007/08²

* Figures for 2002/03 onward are recorded according to the National Crime Recording Standard, which was introduced on 1 April 2002.

Drug seizures in Northern Ireland prisons

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has operated a specific drugs policy and strategy since 1996. The approach focuses on reducing the supply of drugs into prisons and developing ways of working with prisoners to reduce drug use.

In November 2001, having previously been deployed at Magilligan, passive drug dogs were introduced at Maghaberry and the Young Offenders' Centre. In the first four months at Maghaberry, passive dogs made 771 positive indications.

Voluntary drug testing is now operating in each establishment for prisoners on enhanced regime.

Prison staff conduct random and targeted searches and police are notified and asked to investigate any finds of illicit drugs.

The most recent prison facts and figures for 1 September 2007 - 30 November 2007 are as follows:

This information and further updates may be accessed via the Northern Ireland Prison Service website www.niprisonservice.gov.uk.

Reference

1. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Central Statistics Unit. Statistical Report No. 4 Drug seizures and arrests 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008. Belfast: PSNI, 2008. Available at www.psni.police.uk/4._drug_seizures_and_arrests_summary.pdf accessed 30 July 2008.
2. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Central Statistics Unit. Statistical Report No. 1 Recorded crime and clearances 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008. Belfast: PSNI, 2008. Available at www.psni.police.uk/1._recorded_crime-2.pdf accessed 30 July 2008.