Using data to support law enforcement decision making around illegal drug parcels

Abstract

Using data from the National Crime Agency on drug parcels intercepted en route to Scotland between 2011 and 2016, this project aimed to identify what factors were most important in determining which parcels were used to conduct a controlled delivery. Specifically, we examined factors relating to the level of harm posed by the parcel itself (in terms of the type and amount of drugs it contained) and factors relating to the level of drug-related harm in the communities to which the parcels were destined. We found that decisions taken by law enforcement agencies were related to the amount and type of drug contained in parcels, but not to wider community factors.