The 'Unacceptable' Reality of the Widespread Use of Illegal, Harmful Drugs by the Nation's Youngsters

Summary

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Children as young as 10 are being charged with drug offences in Wales, according to figures obtained by the Western Mail. The figures detail a wide range of drug offences committed in each of Wales' four police force areas and show that hundreds of teenagers and younger children were arrested or charged with drug offences last year.

Police officials yesterday said it was "unacceptable" that children were falling victim to drug abuse.

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Extract

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The 'Unacceptable' Reality of the Widespread Use of Illegal, Harmful Drugs by the Nation's Youngsters

While the majority of offences involved cannabis, some have involved the possession of heroin or cocaine, and groups dealing with young drug offenders said they had worked in rare instances with children as young as 14 who had taken heroin.

The police and other organisations said "vulnerable" young people would sometimes be preyed on by older pushers, while it was also claimed that cannabis remained the gateway to harder drugs and that its downgrading to a class C drug in 2004 had set the fight against drugs back several years.

Figures from South Wales Police showed that 217 people aged between 10 and 17 were arrested for unspecified drugs offences i...

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