To ask the Minister of Justice to detail the number of people (i) charged; and (ii) convicted in relation to drug crime in the Limavady area, in each of the last five years.

The Department of Justice does not hold information on the numbers of persons charged for drugs offences. Information on persons charged for drugs offences is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

You may, therefore, wish to direct any query relating to the issues raised in part (i) of the question to the PSNI.

Information in relation to part (ii) of the question has been provided in relation to the number of convictions at courts for drugs offences in 2018 – 2022, the most recent five years for which information is available, in relation to defendants who had an address in Limavady at the date their case was dealt with in court.

Convictions at courts for drugs offences where defendant had address in Limavady, 2018 - 2022

Note:

1. Figures relate to initial disposal at courts. Appeals are not included.

2. Figures relate to cases where there was a conviction for at least one drugs offence.

3. Figures relate to defendants who were recorded as having an address in Limavady settlement area at time court case was dealt with.

4. Limavady settlement area is as defined in the NISRA report ‘Review of the Statistical Classification and Delineation of Settlements 2015’.