TONY Blair has been warned that abuse of Class A drugs is hitting York, as well as bigger cities such as Manchester and Liverpool.
During Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, city MP Hugh Bayley said as many as 250 people were being treated for heroin addiction at any one time.
Mr Bayley later told the Evening Press that almost a third - 37 out of 119 - of all-drug related arrests in York in the last three months have been related to class A drugs, such as heroin or Ecstasy.
Mr Bayley called for greater investment in drug referral and rehabilitation programmes.
Nine out of every ten people arrested comply with the requirements for drug referral programmes, which are tailor-made to kelp them kick the habit. Mr Bayley wants to ensure enough places are available.
He said investment in drug programmes had increased by £0.5 billion under Labour, but he pledged further measures to break the link between drugs and crime.
Updated: 10:42 Thursday, July 10, 2003
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