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Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Answer

Fines imposed in individual cases are entirely a matter for the independent courts within the limits set by Parliament and following any relevant sentencing guidelines. The law requires that the amount of any fine must reflect both the seriousness of the offence and the known financial circumstances of the offender.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service takes the issue of fine enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure that clamping down on fine defaulters is a continued priority nationwide. The courts have a range of powers to enforce payment of fines, including the use of bailiffs to seize goods, and deductions from earnings or benefits. Over recent years we have overseen improvements to the collection of financial penalties. There was a total of £290m collected against fines and related impositions in 2013/14 which was a record high and 2% more than the previous year.

We will continue to do all it can to prevent people from using drugs in the first place and intervene early with those who start to develop problems with a particular focus on enabling local commissioners to deliver local services. The Home Office are investing in a range of programmes which have a positive impact on young people and adults, giving them the confidence, resilience and risk management skills to resist drug use. This includes continuing to update our drug awareness service, FRANK, so that young people are aware of the harms of both controlled drugs and the risks associated with uncontrolled new psychoactive substances (or ‘legal highs’). In addition, by focusing their attention on those individuals who are at most risk of misusing drugs, the Home Office have provided targeted interventions to engage with them at the earliest opportunity. This includes investing in local services to respond to local need through the introduction of a £2 billion Early Intervention Grant for local authorities. The Home Office have also developed tools for commissioners that include an Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service (ADEPIS) that is providing practical advice and tools based on the best international evidence.

The number of offenders convicted at the magistrates' courts for selected offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, in England and Wales, from 2010 to 2013 (the latest data available) can be viewed in table 1 below.

The number of offenders sentenced at all courts to the maximum custodial sentence for selected drug offences, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, in England and Wales, from 2010 to 2013 (the latest data available) can be viewed in table 2 below.

Data relating to the maximum fine at crown court cannot be determined as the maximum amount of fine for misuse of drug class A, class B and class C is of unlimited amount.

It is not possible to identify how much has been collected against fines imposed for specific offences without carrying out a manual search of all fine account records held by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. This information could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

208447

Session

2014-15

Attachment

Misuse of drugs offences

Related items

Drugs: Misuse
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Written questions
House of Commons

Drugs: Misuse
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Written questions
House of Commons

Subjects

Convictions Drugs Fines Misuse Prison sentences

Legislation

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk