WESTMORLAND and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins is urging the Government to come up with more cash to fight the drugs war in rural areas in the wake of a warning about the threat from crack cocaine.

Following a statement from chief constable Michael Baxter that the highly addictive substance was now the biggest drugs threat in Cumbria, the MP has urged Home Secretary David Blunkett to review the way in which funding was allocated to rural areas.

As previously reported, Mr Baxter said that crack cocaine, which people could become addicted to in less than a week, had now reached south Cumbria with Barrow being described as the front line.

The addictive nature of the drug, a mixture of cocaine and baking soda, has been highlighted on the ITV1 television series The Bill in which PC Nick Klein is portrayed as struggling to carry out his job after becoming hooked on the substance.

Mr Collins said he particularly feared the drug because it was so addictive, and it was related to a whole range of crimes like burglary.

He said that funding for the police to fight drugs and for drug education had traditionally not been directed at areas like South Lakeland where the problem was not as acute. However, additional cash now could stop the spread of drugs, he said, and prevent the problem from spiralling.

He had spoken to police and others involved in drugs work who all said that we should not be fooled into thinking that the beautiful surroundings and low unemployment in South Lakeland meant there was not a problem which could grow.

"There's some evidence a Merseyside drugs gang has been targeting the Barrow area and the risk of course is the more it takes root in Barrow, the more likely it is it will spread into the rest of South Lakeland."

Mr Collins said he felt particularly strongly about offering treatment for addiction as a strict alternative to prosecution and prison. However, nationally only ten per cent of the places that were needed to treat addicts were available.

"We just can't sit back and hope this is going to stay an inner city problem. There are drug-related problems occurring in South Lakeland and if we don't have the resources to get on top of them it will only get worse."

Assistant chief constable Richard Crompton said: "We have already made good progress in fighting the advent of crack cocaine in this county.

"However, this will be a continual task and more funding from central government aimed to target this issue would certainly assist us in our efforts."

May 9, 2003 11:00