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Table DLO-6. Cannabis-related offences, 2003 to 2010
Part (ii) Methodological notes
| Country | Methods of percentages calculation and other notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Between 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 | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| Czech Republic | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. Only criminal offences. | |
| Germany | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| For some offences a breakdown by drug is not available, and these offences are not recorded. | ||
| Ireland | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| In 2007 responsibility for reporting crime data transferred to a different agency. The new agency reassessed the data for 2005 and 2006 on the basis of information held in a new Garda IT system. This change is likely to affect comparability of the data across time. | ||
| Greece | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| Spain | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| France | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| Italy | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| For some offences a breakdown by drug is not available, and these offences are not recorded. | ||
| Cyprus | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| For some offences a breakdown by drug is not available, and these offences are not recorded. | ||
| Latvia | Based on all drug offences. Several different drug offences may be involved in one criminal case. | |
| Since 2007, data are provided by a different source, providing number correspond to criminal offences. | ||
| Lithuania | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| For some offences a breakdown by drug is not available, and these offences are not recorded. | ||
| Luxembourg | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| Calculated on arrests for presumed offences against the 1973 drug law. | ||
| Due to a complete upgrade of the RELIS database, since 2007 data is not comparable with data from previous years. | ||
| Hungary | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| Malta | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| Netherlands | Data refer to cases registered by the Public Prosecutor. | |
| The reported proportion represents offences for cannabis only: it does not include offences for 'cannabis plus other drug(s). | ||
| Austria | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| Poland | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| Portugal | For some offences a breakdown by drug is not available, and these offences are not recorded. | |
| Since July 2001 drug use and possession for use have been decriminalized and made an administrative offence. Data on such offences, although included in this table, come from a different monitoring system. 2001 data should be treated with caution since this new monitoring system was being tested for the first time. | ||
| Slovenia | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| Slovakia | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| Up to and including 2005, the unit reported was suspected offenders. No data is available for 2006, during which year a new criminal code was introduced. From 2007 onwards, the unit reported is offenders convicted according to the new criminal code. This change is likely to affect comparability across time. | ||
| Sweden | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is reported, as main or other drug. | |
| Calculated on persons given a summary fine by the prosecutor or sentenced by a court. | ||
| United Kingdom | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is reported, as main or other drug. | |
| Previous data has been on an offender (person basis). Since 2005 data are based on an all drug offence basis, except for Northern Ireland, which continues to be on a principal drug (i.e person) basis. | ||
| Since 2004 police have been able to issue cannabis warnings for possession offences of small amounts of cannabis. These are not included in drug law offence data. The increased use of cannabis warnings is likely to affect comparability over time. | ||
| Croatia | Based on the number of reports where cannabis is recorded as the main or other drug. | |
| Turkey | Based on the number of reports with cannabis as the main drug. | |
| After 2002 data refer to all data reported by the main prosecuting authorities (police, gendarmerie, customs). This change is likely to affect comparability across time. |