Drugs and Retail Crime, 2005 figures >>

Retailers believe that between 50% and 60% of shoplifting is drug-related.

A Home Office Report (Bennett, 2005) assessed drug use amongst 2,971 offenders arrested for a variety of low-level offences in Nottingham, Liverpool, Sunderland and South Norwood (London). One third said they were dependent on at least one drug.

• 29% of arrestees had stolen from a shop in the previous 12 months and 57% had stolen from a shop at least once before. >
• Stealing from a shop was the most popular crime, along with handling stolen goods.
• In the last 12 months, compared to the 15% of non-users who stole from shops, there were 42% of heroin users, 19% of crack/cocaine users and 65% of heroin/cocaine users.

The average weekly expenditure on drugs by the arrestee drug users was £129. Those using heroin and crack had spent £308 in the last week. These users spent an average of £16000 pa on heroin or crack and in some areas £20,000.

To fund their drag habits, users generated an average illegal income of £5,000 and heroin and crack users generated £13,000. The amounts stolen to fund the average drug user were £15,000-£35,000 each, and for heroin or crack users was £40,000-£110,000 every year.

• 23% of the group generated 52% of the illegal income
• 9% of arrestees were responsible for 34% of the illegal income and 52% of all offences in the area.
• Those who spent above £100 on drugs per week were responsible for ten times the number of offences than people who did not take drugs.

More than 82% of users said they could obtain crack/cocaine in their own neighbourhood and 85% could get heroin. One-third of all arrestees in Liverpool were dependent on heroin.

Drug treatment:

• 9% were currently receiving treatment for drugs (but still offended - oops!)
• 21% had received treatment for drugs at some time in the past
• A further 20% of addicts said they would like to receive treatment.

(Source: Bennett, T. (2005) Drugs and Crime: The Effects of the Developmental Stage of the NEW-ADAM Programme, Home Office Research Study 205, London: Research, Development and Statistics Unit, Home Office.)

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