03 February 2022

Drug seizures by police rise 21% during pandemic

03 February 2022

The number of drug seizures made by police in England and Wales rose by 21% during the coronavirus pandemic, figures show.

Police and Border Force made a total of 223,106 drug seizures in the year to March 2021 compared with 183,646 the previous year, according to Home Office data.

A report, published on Thursday, described it as the third consecutive annual increase in seizures, “reversing a downward trend” over the decade.

It said a rise in the number of seizures of Class B drugs seems to have “driven the overall increase in seizures”, while there were also “notable increases” in seizures of Class A drugs such as LSD and methadone as well as Class C drugs overall.

Seizures of Class A drugs increased by 17% (from 37,371 to 43,586).

While the number of cocaine seizures dropped by 6%, the quantity of the drug seized soared by 161% (6,874kg/15,155lb) from 4,274kg (9,423lb) to 11,148kg (24,577lb) in the latest period.

Heroin was the second most commonly seized Class A drug. There was a 6% increase in seizures (from 8,769 to 9,258), but the quantity seized fell by 18% from 2,396kg (5,282lb) to 1,973kg (4,350lb).

The coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent lockdowns in England and Wales, are likely to have affected indicators in this report, such as changes to the night-time economy and associated drug use, or changes in police and Border Force activity

Class B drug seizures rose by 21% (from 139,129 to 168,332), with 95% (159,209) of these involving at least one form of cannabis.

Experimental statistics on new psychoactive substances (NPS) also published suggest a total of 2.12 million doses of nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, were seized by police and Border Force officers in the year to March 2021.

This is more than six times the amount recorded for the previous period (312,220), the data indicates.

The number of seizures of nitrous oxide increased by 36%, from 274 to 373.

The report said the number and quantity of seizures “should not be taken as an indicator of drug prevalence” as the figures can be affected by police activity and recording practices, as well as changes in the drugs market.

It added: “The coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent lockdowns in England and Wales, are likely to have affected indicators in this report, such as changes to the night-time economy and associated drug use, or changes in police and Border Force activity.”

The figures do not include Hertfordshire Constabulary, Kent Police and Staffordshire Police as these forces could not provide complete data for the period in time for publication.

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