Sunday, 17 March 2019

Shocking figures reveal increase in drug arrests across Lincolnshire


A certain "drug" that could be the cause of many
arrests in Lincolnshire - Photo: Matt Senior.
The number of drug-related arrests across Lincolnshire has increased dramatically since 2014 according to new data from Lincolnshire Police.

A Freedom of Information Request has revealed that just over 8,000 arrests were made due to distribution of controlled substances over the past five years.

Whilst Lincoln was the worst affected area in the county, with over 2500 arrests in the past five years, it was not the only place that provided cause for concern.

Boston had over 1500 arrests and Grantham followed closely behind with just over 1000, showing the problem isn't just restricted to the city.


Ted Tedder, freedom of information officer for Lincolnshire Police, said: "Police forces in the UK are routinely required to provide crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set nationally.

"These figures are not generic, neither is the system we use or the procedures used locally in capturing the crime data.

"On several occasions, a number of arrests took place out of Lincolnshire Police's force area and therefore, we are unable to record them in our database."

The figures also revealed a steady rise between 2014 and 2015, with 84 more arrests being made in 2015 at 1591.

Despite a drop in 2016 to 1321, the number of arrests rose higher in 2017 to 1742 and again in 2018 when nearly 2,000 drug-related crimes were committed.

Drugs have become a prominent issue in Lincolnshire, with several businesses saying that it affects their trade with addicts loitering near their shops.

Additionally, reports of distress to local people and tourists has seen the City of Lincoln Council fund schemes to tackle this problem.

A new drug intervention team was approved last October and more funding has been made towards addiction workers.