{"metric":"prc_drug_offences","title":"Drug offences (police-recorded)","topic":"crime","unit":"offences","measure_type":"count","geography":"K04000001","comparison_method":"year_on_year","latest":{"period_start":"2025-04-01","period_end":"2026-03-31","period_label":"Year ending March 2026","value":231130,"status":"final","vintage":"2026-07-23"},"comparison":{"period_label":"Year ending March 2025","value":205800,"vintage":"2026-07-23"},"source":{"publisher":"ONS","publication":"Crime in England and Wales: Appendix tables","landing_url":"https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesappendixtables","sheet":"Table A5a","table":"Table A5a","row":"TOTAL DRUG OFFENCES","column":"Apr 2025 to \n Mar 2026","raw_value":"231130","file_url":"","file_sha256":"9e4a930ec090b4b4a7dfda22f6f5f3b418cfa6a034f977ae99977562f8502ac9","release_date":"2026-07-23","release_label":"Year ending March 2026"},"definition":"Police-recorded drug possession and trafficking offences in England and Wales in a 12-month period.","does_not_measure":"The level of drug use or supply; these offences are mostly found through police activity such as stop and search, so the figure reflects police effort as much as underlying activity.","links":{"page":"/crime/drug-offences","series":"/api/metrics/prc_drug_offences/series","vintages":"/api/metrics/prc_drug_offences/vintages"}}