Latest On Needle Discovery

Drug addiction must be a terrible thing so I do have sympathy for addicts.

Phil Bateman said "I am also very aware that the consequence of carelessly discarding hypodermic syringes can be deadly to innocent children. I am very concerned that a syringe was found close to the entrance of a school last night .

I know that the resident who found the needle was very concerned that it had been left very close to the Primary school and was worried for the children who regularly used the path to travel to school.

The police have been responsive and the information that has been passed onto them will be used by force intelligence to best advantage. I am informed by the police that under sec 17 of the crime and disorder act that many
partners have responsibilities in this area, careless disposal of needles sits in the first instance with the local authority and the health authority. We will use the information for intelligence purposes and we are keen to
receive such information.

I am led to believe that where needles are handed out to addicts in the future they will be bar-coded so that when carelessly disguarded as in this instant, the agencies will be able to take action against the person responsible for this. I do expect that issues like this will be hard to stop and hard to deal with. But there are a number of partners as the police have indicated that must lead in the first instance. I will keep you all in formed of developments."