Police record eight fold increase in cannabis seizure

THE amount of cannabis seized by police in Leicestershire has increased more than eight-fold in a year - with a gram now recovered every three-quarters of an hour, on average.

Home Office data has revealed there has been a huge surge in the amount of certain drugs being taken off the streets.

In particular, cannabis resin seizures hit their highest levels since modern records began.

The data shows Leicestershire Police found 12.5kg of cannabis in 2017/18 - the equivalent of a gram every 42 minutes.

The amount seized has soared from 1.5kg in 2016/17. It is the biggest annual haul of cannabis resin since records began in 2009/10.

Not all drugs saw record amounts seized in Leicestershire in 2017/18.

The amount of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy found by police fell year on year, as did the amount of herbal cannabis and cannabis plants.

Nonetheless, the figures show that on average across the Leicestershire Police area:

• A gram of cocaine is found every one hour and 38 minutes

• A gram of crack is found every 12 hours

• A dose of ecstasy is found every eight hours

• A gram of heroin is found every 1 hour and 25 minutes

• A dose of methadone is found every 11 hours

• A dose of morphine is found every 20 minutes

• A gram of herbal cannabis is found every six minutes

• A gram of cannabis resin is found every 42 minutes

• A cannabis plant is found every two hours and 24 minutes

• A gram of amphetamines is found every day

A dose of anabolic steroids is found every nine hours.