Police drug seizures in Hampshire rose during the first year of the pandemic by 30 per cent

Home Office data shows Hampshire Constabulary carried out 6,404 seizures in the year to March – up 30 per cent from 4,919 the year before.

There were 220,000 seizures nationally, up more than a fifth from 2019/20.

Police chiefs say a drop in calls from the public during parts of 2020/21 meant forces across England and Wales had more capacity to proactively police drugs crimes and disrupt illicit dealing and county lines activity.

Policing and crime minister Kit Malthouse said this meant some ‘nasty villains’ nursing huge losses, while home secretary Priti Patel praised the efforts of police and border force officials in their targeting of ‘the kingpins destroying communities.’

However, Release – the national centre for drugs expertise – said seizures have little impact on the availability of drugs, claiming people had no difficulties finding a dealer in a ‘resilient and adaptable market,’ even during the pandemic.

In 2020/21, there were 5,988 drug crimes recorded across Hampshire, a 32 per cent rise from 4,524 in 2019/20.

The offences contributed to the 210,000 logged nationally last year – a record high.

Dr Laura Garius, Release's policy lead, said the organisation's monitoring of UK drug purchasing during the pandemic found more people reported an increase in consumption.

She said: ‘Just as we see with recorded drug offences, drug seizures reflect policing activity and priorities, rather than accurately reflecting drug market activity.’

Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine were seized by Hampshire police 507 times during 2020/21, but cannabis was a factor in the largest proportion of all seizures – 81 per cent.

SEE ALSO: More Hampshire children being exploited by drug dealers

Variations of the class B substance were found in 5,206 seizures, with police confiscating 10,385 cannabis plants as a result.

Nationally, 71 per cent of all drugs seizures involved cannabis.

Dr Garius said it was the drug most responsible for bringing people into the justice system and called for its legislation, saying doing so would prevent the criminalisation of thousands.

However, deputy chief constable Jason Harwin, drugs lead at the National Police Chiefs' Council, said the substance was potent, harmful and a ‘key driver in other serious criminality.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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