‘Drug gangs use fear and violence to terrorise’

The largest representative body of drug projects in the country has called for a national debate on decriminalisation.

The CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign said the drugs problem was worse than ever and that gangs were “controlling large swathes of our neighbourhoods” by intimidation and violence.

The umbrella organisation — which represents community and voluntary drug groups nationwide — said gangs were recruiting young children to move drugs, money and firearms.