City launching drive to tackle drugs menace

Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives, which begins on Monday, will bring various agencies including West Yorkshire Police, Bradford Council and drug treatment services together to crack down on dealing and raise awareness of the dangers of drugs.

According to national NHS research carried out in 2009, about 22 per cent of young adults had used one or more illicit drug in the previous 12 months.

As police undertake operations across the area to disrupt those involved in drugs, work will also take place to educate and inform the public about the dangers of drug misuse.

The chairman of the Bradford district safer communities strategy group, Chief Supt Alison Rose, said: "Drugs can have a devastating effect on people's lives and it is crucial that we are able to address the associated issues at every level.

"We cannot overestimate the harm that drugs have on individuals, families and the wider community and we can only tackle this by working together.

"Throughout this week, we will be underlining our partnership efforts around enforcement, education and rehabilitation."

Officers will speak to parents at schools and nurseries about their role in protecting their children.

The Young People's Drug and Alcohol Service will be running awareness raising drop-in sessions at Keighley Connections and the Bradford Young People's Information Shop.

The council's youth offending team will discuss cannabis and former "legal highs" with young offenders and launch a group to divert young people away from dealing drugs.

Bradford Council's executive member for community safety, Imran Hussain, said: "By working together with our partners we can develop better solutions to this complex and enduring issue. Education, prevention, enforcement and treatment are the main features of our strategy."