POLICE officers in Barnsley town centre will perform more stop and search operations in a crackdown against the zombie-like users of the drug known as spice.
A new extra-strong strain of the drug, which is reportedly available for as little as £2, is thought to be behind the increasing reports of people being found collapsed in the town centre.
The fast-acting drug, which used to be a so-called ‘legal high’, is now an illegal class B substance. The synthetic cannabinoid is designed to mimic the effects of cannabis - although its strength is said to be much stronger.
Chris Foster, Chief Inspector of Operations at Churchfield Police Station in the town centre, said: “We know people are taking the drug and we plan to increase the use of stop and search on those suspected of being under the influence.
“They are in zombified states and we don’t want that to reflect Barnsley town centre and put off shoppers and businesses.
“If you’re drunk and disorderly, you’ll be locked up, but there’s no legislation on spice currently.
“If we find someone who’s been taking it, it is our role to wait with them until paramedics arrive. This can be quite time-consuming so it has been a drain, but our first concern obviously has to be their welfare.
“We can’t just leave them alone, so there has to be better joined-up thinking between agencies.
“Spice is a class B drug and if anyone is found to have it on them, they will be arrested.”
Police will now work alongside Barnsley Council - which is looking at introducing more civil injunctions to prevent spice users from being in the town centre - and Barnsley Hospital and mental health workers who work in police custody suites.
Officers - who have identified spice-related issues as one of their priorities - are conducting regular high visibility patrols, holding crime reduction stalls in venues such as Barnsley Interchange and public meetings in order to engage with people expressing their concerns about the town centre.
According to Paul Brannan, the council’s head of safer neighbourhood services, those taking spice in the town centre are on the decline thanks to the use of civil injunctions.
“The threat these people pose while they’re in a state is very little and the risk to other people is small, but that’s not to minimise the impact it has on other people in the town centre.
“It’s horrible to see people laid out as it causes alarm and distress. The council and the police are absolutely adamant that we will do everything we possibly can to minimise this.”
