9.8.1 The illicit nature of drug use makes obtaining accurate estimates of the levels of usage challenging. The recorded figures for both drug possession and trafficking can be seen to significantly understate the true extent of
offending in those areas. Police recorded crime figures tend to be more a measure of drug policing activity and changes may reflect changes in national and local policing priorities rather than changes in the incidence of drug use.
9.8.2 The BCS is used to monitor trends in drug use (for more information see ‘Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey’). Analysis of the 2009/10 BCS revealed that in the South West some 7.6% of those aged 16-59 reported having used illicit drugs in the last year, compared to the England and Wales average of 8.6%. The figure for the South West was significantly lower than the previous year (10.4% in 2008/09). The figure for Class A drug usage in the South West was 2.7% of 16-59 year olds reporting use in the last year (the England and Wales average was 3.1%). These figures should be treated with some caution since the small number of respondents in each region make these figures subject to fluctuation. Figures taken from: Hoare, Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2008/09 British Crime Survey, 2009, Home Office.
9.8.3 The results of the 2009/10 BCS showed that the proportion of people perceiving there to be high levels of drug use or dealing in their area was statistically significantly lower in the South West (19%) than in England and Wales as a whole (2%). The figure for the South West was also statistically significantly lower than for 2008/09 (23%). All force areas in the region were statistically significatly lower than the average for England and Wales. The police force areas of Dorset (16%) and Gloucestershire (18%) had percentages statistically significantly lower compared to the previous year.
9.8.4 See the 'Public Health' chapter for further information about drug misuse in the South West.
