CRIME LINK TO DRUGS STRENGTHENS

The link between crime and drug-taking in Britain is more pronounced
than ever, with almost seven offenders in every 10 arrested testing
positive for illegal substances, according to new research.

In some areas the number of suspected criminals found to have taken
drugs such as heroin or crack cocaine has doubled in two years.

There is also a hard core of drug-taking criminals, each responsible
for more than 200 offences a year to fund their habits.

While the connection between drugs and crime has been well established,
the Home Office study published yesterday shows the trend is growing.
Research in Liverpool, Nottingham, Sunderland and South Norwood,
London, found that 69pc of those arrested had tested positive for
illegal drugs. An even higher proportion admitted taking at least one
illegal drug in the previous year while 57pc had taken more than one
drug.

Those arrested in Liverpool were most likely to test positive for
opiates and cocaine or crack.

However, there is a difference in Sunderland where they were most
likely to have taken cannabis and amphetamines.

In Nottingham, positive tests for opiates such as heroin increased
from 16pc in 1997 to 31pc in 1999. Positive tests for cocaine or crack
in the city increased from 10pc to 23pc. At the same time, there was a
reduction in the use of alcohol among those detained by officers.

One in 10 of those arrested admitted committing more than 20 property
offences a month half the total. On average, offenders were
accumulating an illegal income of pounds 5,535 a year, about half of it
coming from property crime.

For those on hard drugs such as heroin or crack cocaine, the average
illegally-derived income was pounds 12,719. Offenders said they spent
pounds 129 a week on drugs on average, though the figure was more than
pounds 300 for users of heroin or crack.

The survey found that most drug abuse and crime to feed it was locally
contained. Four out of five heroin or crack users were able to obtain
their drugs near home and knew up to 15 dealers.

The survey results are to be fed into new government programmes aimed
at identifying problem drug users and tackling their criminality.