An independent senator has called for recreational drugs to be legalised and for the State to control the sale of substances. Senator James Heffernan made the remarks as emergency legislation was rushed through yesterday to re-ban the possession of ecstasy, magic mushrooms and other drugs.

The head of “Britain’s FBI” has warned the Mr Bigs of the underworld there will be “no one beyond the reach” of the crime-fighting agency on the day it goes live.