CHILDREN AGED 12 ON CANNABIS

Youth workers believe they have seen a surge in the number of young
people smoking cannabis on our streets in recent months.

Seaham Youth Initiative's workers take to the streets to speak to
young people and offer them support.

They say although alcohol is still the most abused substance among
the 11 to 25-year-olds they speak to, staff have become aware of an
increase in the number of those using the drug.

The organisation say it is aware of children as young as 12 taking
it, with the substance sometimes mixed with drink.

It comes just days after a huge discovery of cannabis in the town.
Cannabis plants with a street value of about UKP300,000 were
recovered after a raid at a house on Ambleside Drive.

Mick Waters, youth development worker with SYI, said: "A lot of the
young people we are working with are using it, some more than others,
but there's no age in particular."

"I would say over the past couple of months we've found a lot of
young people have got easy access to marijuana.

"We can't lecture them over it, but we can chat through it with them
and we don't find out who's dealing it or how much they are paying.

"We will talk to them about the dangers of it and where they're doing
it and in relation to the dangers of that."

The workers, who fill out assessments following each of their street
sessions, say they are continuing to monitor the issue and have
raised the subject in the hope parents and others will be made aware
of the increase.

Neighbourhood Inspector Vince Addison, who leads police in the Seaham
area, urged people living in the town to come forward with
information which will help continue the crackdown on drugs in the area.

Inspector Addison said: "I'd say that we treat info of this sort very
seriously.

"Indeed, tackling drug problems is a priority for both Durham
Constabulary and the Easington Community Safety Partnership.

"Earlier this year we made the large cannabis seizure in Deneside and
we will continue to act on information we receive from the community
to make sure that the community is protected from the effects of drug use.

"I encourage anyone with such information to contact us."

Although there has been a perceived increase in recent months, Durham
Constabulary says there has been a drop in the number of young people
it has dealt with for drugs offences.

Statistics reveal that throughout its force area last year, 53 under
17s were arrested for possession of drugs, four were arrested for
supplying drugs and four were arrested for intent to supply.

The year before those numbers show 54 were arrested for possession of
drugs, 11 were arrested for supplying drugs and one was arrested for
intent to supply.

Information about drugs can be found at www.talktofrank.com, with
details of local services available from www.codurhamdat.org.uk.

Durham Constabulary can be contacted on 0845 60 60 365 and
Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.