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Drug penalties

Drug penalties

 

girl in alley

If you are caught with drugs you can get into trouble with the police for:


Possession: If you have the smallest trace of a drug on you, you can get in trouble for possession. It doesn't need to be enough to have an effect on you.ugs you can get into trouble with the police for:

  • Possession with intent to supply: Any amount, even if it's for personal use, could be all the police need to think you are dealing.
  • Offering to supply: Offering to get someone drugs even if you don't really have any could get you prosecuted.
  • Supplying/producing a controlled drug: Even buying on behalf of a group of friends amounts to supplying or dealing a drug.

Individual circumstances

The sentence you receive for being caught with illegal drugs will depend on your individual circumstances, including:

  • If you have been in trouble with the police before
  • The quality of drugs
  • Whether you were making money from dealing drugs
  • Your character.

Penalties for using or dealing in drugs increase depending on how harmful the drugs are - with class A having the most severe punishments.

These drugs are controlled under the United Kingdom Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Class A drugs

If you are caught in possession of or dealing these drugs you will face the most severe penalties.

For possession: The maximum prison sentence is seven years and a fine.

For trafficking (large scale drug dealing): You could get a life prison sentence and a fine.

Class B drugs

If you are caught in possession of or dealing these drugs you will face mid-range penalties. If class B drugs are prepared for injection, they become class A drugs.

For possession: The maximum prison sentence is five years and a fine.

For trafficking: You could get 14 years in prison and a fine.

Class C drugs

If you are caught in possession of or dealing these drugs you will face lower range penalties.

For possession: The maximum prison sentence is two years and a fine. In a magistrates' court you'll face a maximum sentence of six months and a £2,000 fine.

For trafficking: You could get 14 years in prison and a fine.

Alcohol, Tobacco, Solvents and the law