Chamber and committees

We continue to support law enforcement agencies to identify and pursuit the criminal gangs involved in this abhorrent serious organised crime. We have brought forward provision in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill which amends and clarifies the trafficking offence provisions and which will ensure consistency of the law on this issue across the UK. We are also providing SCDEA with additional funding of £4 million over the next two years to boost capacity to tackle organised crime and, within that, provide Scotland''s first dedicated expert resource to build the intelligence necessary to support and improve human trafficking investigation.

During Pentameter 2, a police-led operation aimed at disrupting trafficking for sexual exploitation which ran between October 2007 and March 2008, there were a total of 35 arrests made. A crown office analysis in 2008 revealed that of the 35 arrests made during that period there were 22 prosecutions, resulting in 18 convictions for offences including trading in prostitution, attempting to pervert the course of justice and offences under the Identity Cards Act 2006 and the Immigration Act 1971, and that sentences ranging from imprisonment to financial penalties have been imposed. There were no prosecutions for trafficking offences due to insufficient evidence.

The Scottish Government and COPFS are working with ACPOS and those supporting victims of human trafficking to encourage victims to report these offences to the police. COPFS will continue to work with relevant agencies to raise awareness of human trafficking issues and to assist them to identify potential victims of such crime.

Chronic Conditions Included in the Sheffield Alcohol Pricing Model: Scottish Adaption:

Wholly Attributable Chronic Conditions:

Alcohol-induced pseudo Cushing''s Syndrome,

Wernicke''s encephalopathy,

Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol,

Alcoholic polyneuropathy,

Alcoholic myopathy,

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy,

Alcoholic gastritis,

Alcoholic liver disease,

Alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis.

Partly Attributable Chronic Conditions:

Cancer of the lip oral cavity and pharynx,

Oesophageal cancer,

Colorectal cancer,

Cancer of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts,

Laryngeal cancer,

Breast cancer,

Epilepsy and Status epilepticus,

Hypertensive diseases,

Coronary heart disease,

Cardiac arrhythmias,

Haemorrhagic stroke,

Ischaemic stroke,

Oesophageal varices,

Mallory-Weiss syndrome,

Unspecified liver disease,

Portal hypertension,

Cholelithiasis,

Acute and other chronic pancreatitis,

Psoriasis,

Spontaneous abortion.

Chronic Conditions Included in the Sheffield Alcohol Pricing Model: Scottish Adaption:

Wholly Attributable Chronic Conditions:

Alcohol-induced pseudo Cushing''s Syndrome,

Wernicke''s encephalopathy,

Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol,

Alcoholic polyneuropathy,

Alcoholic myopathy,

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy,

Alcoholic gastritis,

Alcoholic liver disease,

Alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis.

Partly Attributable Chronic Conditions:

Cancer of the lip oral cavity and pharynx,

Oesophageal cancer,

Colorectal cancer,

Cancer of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts,

Laryngeal cancer,

Breast cancer,

Epilepsy and Status epilepticus,

Hypertensive diseases,

Coronary heart disease,

Cardiac arrhythmias,

Haemorrhagic stroke,

Ischaemic stroke,

Oesophageal varices,

Mallory-Weiss syndrome,

Unspecified liver disease,

Portal hypertension,

Cholelithiasis,

Acute and other chronic pancreatitis,

Psoriasis,

Spontaneous abortion.

ISD has recently carried out an in-depth review of its core alcohol-related code set as a result the codes for an alcohol-related diagnosis have been changed. Therefore figures may not be directly comparable with previously published figures. Full details of the consultation are available at:

http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/files/ICD10_c.odes_final_report.pdf.

General acute hospital admissions with an alcohol-related diagnosis in any position and repeat alcohol-related admissions (also expressed as a percentage), by NHS health board of treatment and discharged in 2007-08:

Source: Information Services Division, Scotland.

Persons With a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences¹, Drug Type Cocaine, 1999-2000 To 2007-08³

Notes:

1. Where main offence.

2. Community sentence includes community service order, supervised attendance order, restriction of liberty order and sentences of probation with community service order.

3. Data on type of drug commenced in 2001-02, and has been used progressively more frequently; over the last four years, the type of drug is known in around 60 per cent of possession of drugs offences.

4. Other disposal includes absolute discharge and admonished.

Average (Mean) Fine (£) for Persons Fined for Possession of Drug Offences¹, by Drug Type, 1999-2000 To 2007-08²

Notes:

1. Where main offence.

2. Data on type of drug commenced in 2001-02 and in that year was recorded against four per cent of possession of drug offences. It has since been recorded progressively more frequently; over the last four years, the type of drug is known in around 60 per cent of possession of drugs offences.

Persons With a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences¹, Drug Type Ecstasy, 1999-2000 To 2007-08³

Notes:

1. Where main offence.

2. Community sentence includes community service order, supervised attendance order, restriction of liberty order and sentences of probation with community service order.

3. Data on type of drug commenced in 2001-02, and has been used progressively more frequently; over the last four years, the type of drug is known in around 60 per cent of possession of drugs offences.

4. Other disposal includes absolute discharge, remit to children''s hearing and admonished.