GROWING IMPACT OF DRUG FROM ABROAD

Crack cocaine is a smokable, highly addictive, form of cocaine. It is sold
in crystals - rocks - which cost between UKP20 and UKP25 each.

A single rock has the same effect as cocaine powder, but the "hit" is more
intense. The initial high lasts about 30 minutes, but it is followed by
tiredness and depression that can last up to two days.

Crack cocaine swept American cities such as New York in the mid-1980s, and
a leading officer from the US drug enforcement agency came to London 13
years ago to warn that it would soon be causing havoc here.

The number of crack users in the UK is not known, but the drugs charity
Turning Point believes there has been a rapid increase in the past five
years, particularly in the south of the country.

Lord Adebowale, the charity's chief executive, told the home affairs select
committee: "Five years ago, 1% of [drug] users in the southern region were
crack cocaine users; it is now 12%."

Ten London boroughs have reported significant rises in crack users being
seen by their drug teams since September 2000.

Last year, 21 people were murdered in drug related shootings; all the
victims were black. In addition there were 67 attempted murders. Nearly all
were related to turf wars between rival drug dealers.

Steve Pilkington, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset, has blamed the
77% increase in street robberies in Bristol over the past year on an
increase in the availability and use of crack.