FOI/202100242856 · FOI · not held
Statistics on cautions for drug offences: FOI release
Information requested
Data on cautions meted out by Police Scotland by main crime/offence, covering the years 2003-2020, specifically looking for cautions for drugs offences.
Response
The answer to your question is provided in the attached excel table. Please note that formal Police cautions do not apply in Scotland and direct measures (non-court disposals) would be used instead. Further explanation on direct measures is available online from Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2019-20 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) annex D: D11-D12 and also Police and fiscal warnings, fixed penalty notices and compensation - mygov.scot. Data on direct measures issued, including a breakdown of Recorded Police Warnings by crime type, is published within each annual Criminal Proceedings in Scotland statistical bulletin, as named above, and can be found in the main dataset in tables 17-22 in the latest bulletin for 2019-20. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. We do not hold data on police disposals prior to 2008-09. However, you may wish to contact Police Scotland at foi@scotland.pnn.police.uk who may be able to help you. About FOI The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.