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Table DLO-0. Drug law offences
Part (ii) Methodological comments
| Country | Methodological comments: geographical coverage, stage of the criminal justice process, inconsistencies and other methodological issues | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | National coverage. | Initial report or registrations submitted. In FRAME I substance type: All substances are mentioned within the main drug related offence. In FRAME II offence type: Only the main offence is mentioned. FRAME III total offence/offenders: Offences with a specified substance and offences without a specified substance. From 2000 to 2002, data refer to the number of persons and only the main offence is reported, although the same person could be counted several times if arrested several times during the same year. Before 2000 and 2003-2005, data refer to the number of offences and each offence is represented as one separate record in the database. Since 2006 data refer to the number of offences and only the main offence and the main substance is mentioned. Offences without a specified substance are included. These changes are likely to affect comparability across time. | |
| Bulgaria | National coverage. | Initial report submitted. In FRAME I substance type: Data related to amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and other synthetic drugs are include in "Amphetamines" group. In FRAME II offence type and III total offence/offenders: Drugs and precursors related arrests. Since 2005 persons arrested for drugs and precursors related to supply law offences are reported. | |
| Czech Republic | National coverage. | Initial reports: persons prosecuted for primary drug related crime according to Penal Code. In FRAME I substance type: primary drug of main offences of persons prosecuted. FRAME II offence type: For number of reports of offences initial reports for ascertained drug related offences and persons prosecuted for primary drug related crime according to Penal Code and drug-related misdemeanours is mentioned. FRAME III total offence/offenders: Criminal offences and misdemeanours are recorder and Persons prosecuted/offenders. | |
| Denmark | National coverage. | Initial reports submitted: data are drug offences/cases registered from the beginning of the case handling. Some of cases could later on lead to closure due to groundless information, lack of evidence or acquittal in court. FRAME I and II not available. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: total number of drug offences/cases registered from the beginning of the case handling. | |
| Germany | National coverage. | Registered cases (based on complaints) of offences against the Narcotic Drug Law (Betaeubungsmittelgesetz, BtMG) "general offences", "trafficking/import of non trivial amounts" and "other offences". In FRAME I substance type: Only the main drug related to the main offence is mentioned. "Cocaine" also includes "Crack"; "Amphetamine" include amphetamines/methamphetamines and derivates. In FRAME II offence type: Only the main offence is mentioned. Drug related use/possession includes: General offences (offences in connection with consumption); Drug related dealing/trafficking/production includes: Illegal trafficking and smuggling of narcotics and illegal import of narcotics. | |
| Estonia | National coverage. | Initial reports. FRAME I substance type: not available. In FRAME II total offence/offenders: All number of drug related offender/person. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: total number of drug offences. | |
| Ireland | National coverage. | Initial reports. FRAME I substance type: not available. In FRAME II total offence/offenders: drug offences considered as main offences. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: drug offences considered as main offences. | |
| Greece | National coverage. | Prosecuted persons by any authority: Police, Coast Guard, Customs, Greek Financial and Economic Crimes Office, for any drug law offence (individuals are not necessarily arrested). In FRAME I substance type: All substances are mentioned within the all drug related offence, persons prosecuted may be counted multiple times, as many as the substances (all substances mentioned), as many as the offences (all offences mentioned). FRAME II offence type: not available. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: Total number of persons prosecuted, after double-count control of all the charges that are brought against each individual. | |
| Spain | National coverage. | Initial reports submitted by National Police Corps, Civil Guard and Customs. In FRAME I substance type: All substances are mentioned, "Amphetamine" includes amphetamine and speed. "Ecstasy" includes MDMA and MDA. In FRAME II offence type: All offences related to all substances mentioned. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: Total number of offences related to drug trafficking and to drug use and possession for use. | |
| France | National coverage. | Initial report: Number of infractions and drug law offences accounted by the police during a civil year. | |
| Italy | National coverage. | Initial reports submitted. In FRAME I substance type: All substances are mentioned. In FRAME II offence type: All offence/offenders/persons are included. FRAME III total offence/offenders: All offence/offenders/persons counted once are included. | |
| Cyprus | National coverage. | Initial reports submitted (official charges). In FRAME I substance type: Main substances are mentioned. In FRAME II offence type: Main offence are included (possession, possession and use, importation, cultivation, supply and possession, possession with the intention of trafficking. FRAME III total offence/offenders: Total number of offences (main offence) and total number of persons involved in main offences. | |
| Latvia | National coverage. | Initial reports of criminal procedures. In FRAME I substance type: All substances corresponding to criminal offences are mentioned. In FRAME II offence type: All criminal offences and administrative violations are included. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 all criminal offences and administrative violations; 3.2 persons who have been brought to criminal liability for committing criminal offences and who have committed administrative violations; 3.3 administrative violations. | |
| Lithuania | National coverage. | Initial reports of investigated case of drug legislation offences. In FRAME I substance type: All substances corresponding to investigated cases of drug legislation offences are mentioned. In FRAME II offence type: All registered cases of offences and registered arrested offenders are included. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 All registered cases of offences; 3.2 All arrested offenders. | |
| Luxembourg | National coverage. | Initial reports of presumed offences against the 1973 drug law (Code DELIT-STUP). In FRAME I substance type: All substances related to valid offenders are mentioned, unit used = offender/person, note that several substances may be mentioned for one offender (no double counting control possible). In FRAME II offence type: All offences included, unit used = offences, note that one offender may appear on several offences/records. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 All valid records; 3.2 All valid offenders. | |
| Hungary | National coverage. | All offences concerning the misuse of illicit drugs. Data refer to the year during which criminal investigations were closed. In FRAME I substance type: Main substance related to one individual offence. In FRAME II offence type: Most serious individual offences are included. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 Offences related to closed criminal investigation; 3.2 Offender recorded in the statistics only with the most serious offence. In case of number of offenders, statistics refer to the most serious offence committed by an offender and the year of the offence is the year during which criminal investigations were closed rather than the year during which the offences were committed. Since 2011 the subject of the offence was recorded for all offences, unlike previous years. The category "use and trafficking" is no longer used in the ENYUBS statistical system. These changes are likely to affect comparability across time. | |
| Malta | National coverage. | Initial reports of persons arrested for drug law offences. In FRAME I substance type: Main substance related to charged persons. In FRAME II offence type: Main offences are included. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 Offences; 3.2 Offender. | |
| Netherlands | National coverage. | Cases of criminal Opium Act (OA) offences submitted to Prosecutor. Each case one suspect. A distinction is made between List II OA (mainly cannabis, but also hallucinogenic mushrooms and other "soft drugs") and List I OA ("hard drugs" = all other drugs). In FRAME I substance type: Offences for one drug alone - e.g. offences for cannabis do not include offences for cannabis plus other drug(s). Cases of criminal Drug Law offences (DL) submitted to Prosecutors. Hierarchical counting according to combinations of offence type and drug type. In FRAME II offence type: Main offences submitted to Prosecutor. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.3. All cases of Drug Law offences enrolled at prosecution. | |
| Austria | National coverage. | Initial reports submitted. In FRAME I substance type: All substances are mentioned, not only the main substance, connected with a drug related offence. In FRAME II offence type and III total offence/offenders: All cases concerning a narcotic act article. There is no double-counting for one and the same offender/person. Exception: separate counting for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors. | |
| Poland | National coverage. | Initial reports of offences against Drug Law 2005. In FRAME I substance type: Data refer to the main substances, one offence links with the main drug, in case of seizures of several substances only the main is reported by Police. In FRAME II offence type: All offences are included. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 All registered offences; 3.2 All arrested offenders. | |
| Portugal | National coverage. | Initial Report of persons suspected of offences under the drug law (criminal system) and illicit substance users referred to the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Use (CDT) (non criminal system). In FRAME I substance type: Only offences involving a single drug are reported by drug type. However persons could be double-counted if are recorded more than once. Drugs other than the specified categories and offenders with polydrug use are included in the category 'Other substances'. For some offences a breakdown by drug is not available, and these offences are not recorded. In FRAME II offence type: Person (presumed offender) involved in a seizure of an identified or unidentified substance and main process corresponds to one individual and one occurrence, with an identified or unidentified substance. FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 Process corresponds to one individual and one occurrence; 3.2 Person (presumed offender) involved in a seizure. | |
| Romania | National coverage. | Convicted persons under/against national drug legislation (Law no.143/2000). In FRAME I substance type: Not available. In FRAME II offence type: All persons convicted under/against national drug legislation (Law no.143/2000). FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 Persons convicted. | |
| Slovenia | National coverage. | Initial report. In FRAME I substance type: Not available since 2011. In FRAME II offence type: All offence against drug legislation. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1 number of all offences against drug legislation, 3.2 number of all (criminal) offenders. | |
| Slovakia | National coverage. | Convicted offenders; persons charged with drug law offences. In FRAME I substance type: Main substance, includes only convictions for drug law offences according the new Criminal Code - Act.300/2005 Coll, in case offenders were convicted according old Criminal Code the type of drug was not recorded. In FRAME II offence type: All convictions according new Criminal Code and old Criminal Code together. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.2 Convictions according new Criminal Code and old Criminal Code together. | |
| Finland | National coverage. | Initial report of offences against the Penal Code and Persons suspected of offences under the Penal Code. In FRAME I substance type: Not available. In FRAME II offence type: All offences for one offender/case are reported. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1. Offences against the Penal Code; 3.2. Suspected offender reported (Same person can appear more than once in the statistics). | |
| Sweden | National coverage. | Reported offences. In FRAME I substance type: Not available. In FRAME II offence type: Total number of reported drug offences. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1. Total number of reported drug offences. | |
| United Kingdom | National coverage. | Court and caution. In FRAME I substance type: All drugs in an offence reported. In FRAME II offence type: All drug related offences, several different drug offences may be involved in one case. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1. All drug related offences offence, 3.2. All offenders. | |
| Croatia | National coverage. | Initial reports by the police, before charges, of criminal drug law offences reported by the police-offences against Criminal Code, Article 173. In FRAME I substance type: Distribution by substance of all offence against the Criminal Code. In FRAME II offence type: All number of offence against the Criminal Code. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1. Number of offences, 3.2. Number of persons arrested for drug law offences. | |
| Turkey | National coverage. | Initial reports by law enforcement agencies. In FRAME I substance type: Number of cases only the main drug is included. In FRAME II offence type: Number of cases only the main offence is included. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1. Number of cases, 3.2. Number of suspects in these cases. | |
| Norway | National coverage. | Initial report by the police, offences against General Civil Penal Code and Act on Medicinal Products. In FRAME I substance type: Not available. In FRAME II offence type: Number of cases, all drug-related offences are included. In FRAME III total offence/offenders: 3.1. All drug-related offences are included. |