More than 2,000 are charged over drugs

CANNABIS ACCOUNTS FOR OVER HALF OF ALLEGED SUBSTANCE OFFENCES

THE police force covering Burton and Uttoxeter has charged more than 2,000 people with drug-related offences in the past three years, figures show.

The statistics, released by Staffordshire Police, show that cannabis offences have accounted for more than half of the prosecutions recorded in the county since 2016.

People were charged with producing, dealing or possessing the class B drug 1,096 times – out of a total of 2,028 drug offences.

Cocaine and heroin offences were the second and third most frequently prosecuted, accounting for 371 and 240 charges respectively.

Only a handful of criminals have been charged in connection with the substance known as “monkey dust” so far. Although the police do not record monkey dust prosecutions separately, analysis has revealed that the class B cathinone has only been mentioned on crime reports in 17 drug prosecutions over the last three years.

Staffordshire Police say the number of monkey dust prosecutions does not fully reflect the size of the problem.

A force spokesman said: “The class B drug known locally as monkey dust causes considerable demand to Staffordshire Police through the level of resource needed per incident, as opposed to the number of incidents faced.

“The drug is incredibly unpredictable and long-lasting, often resulting in emergency services having to use a lot of resources to resolve the incident and working with partners to treat those affected.

“An investigative strategy is in place and we are making positive progress with investigations into the supply of the drug in the local area.

“However, other class B drugs, like cannabis, are more prevalent and there are more instances of people cultivating drugs like cannabis.”

Simple possession of cannabis, which carries a maximum sentence of five years but is far more likely to result in a fine, has accounted for 740 prosecutions in Staffordshire since 2016, making it the single most common drug-related offence.

There have also been 159 prosecutions for producing cannabis, 149 for possession with intent to supply cannabis, and 46 for supplying cannabis.

But the numbers of prosecutions and cautions for cannabis possession has been falling in Staffordshire and across the country in recent years.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that the total number of prosecutions in England and Wales fell from 18,661 in 2015 to 15,120 in 2017.

Meanwhile, increasingly more police resources are being directed at Staffordshire’s monkey dust problem.

Staffordshire Police says it was dealing with around 10 monkey dust calls a day over the summer.

The spokesman added: “Staffordshire Police takes all crime related to drugs very seriously and is constantly reviewing investigations to decide which ones must take priority and have the most resources diverted towards them.

“All drugs can cause harm and are interlinked to the exploitation of vulnerable people, which through partnership work and early intervention we try to provide the appropriate support and rehabilitation opportunities.”

Staffordshire Police takes all crime related to drugs extremely seriously.

Spokesman for county’s force