Custodial Treatment: Methamphetamine

Mr. Malins
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted for (a) possession of the drug crystal meth and (b) possession with intent to supply that drug in each of the last six months; how many have been convicted; and how many received a custodial sentence.

Maria Eagle
Information on the number of persons given prosecutions, convictions and custodial sentences received for possession or possession with intent to supply amphetamines or class B drugs in England and Wales for 2005, the latest year for which data are available, can be viewed in the following table.

Prior to its reclassification to a class A drug on 18 January 2007, Methylamphetamine (“crystal meth”) was a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.

The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty and sentenced at all courts for immediate custody for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(2) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec 157, Sch 8, Part II. and Sec 5(3), in England and Wales for the year 20051, 2, 3StatuteOffence descriptionProsecutedGuiltyImmediate custodyMisuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(2) (Class ‘B’ Drug) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec 157, Sch 8, Part II.Having possession of a controlled drug: Amphetamine.2,1842,09465Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(2) (Class ‘B’ Drug) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec 157, Sch 8, Part II.Having possession of a controlled drug: Other Class ‘B’16214911Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(3) (Class ‘B’ Drug).Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply: Amphetamine. 300258123Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(3) (Class ‘B’ Drug)Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply: 0ther Class ‘B’.31165 1 These data are on the principal offence basis. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Prior to 18 January 2007 the possession of and/or with intent to supply Methylamphetamine was not a separate offence It was also reclassed from a class B to class A drug on 18 January 2007. Due to reclassification the table shows both amphetamine and class B data as methylamphetamine may have been recorded under one of those offences prior to reclassification The following are new acts and offence descriptions for Methylamphetamine offences: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 S.4 (3) Supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug (or being concerned in) (Class ‘A’ Drug) Methylamphetamine (Crystal Meths) The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 S.5(2) Having possession of a class A Drug (Class ‘A’ Drug) Methylamphetamine (Crystal Meths) The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 S.5(3) Having possession of a class A drug with intent to supply (Class ‘A’ Drug) Methylamphetamine (Crystal Meths) Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice