Police today declared war on drug dealers from London pushing cocaine, heroin and crack to children as young as 13.
The pushers, who target Lake Meadows park, Billericay, are even lacing cannabis with Class A drugs to get their child buyers hooked on hard narcotics.
Police have linked a significant rise in crime in the area to the fact children could be stealing to fund drug habits.
Shocked officers on patrol in the park have discovered up to 150 youngsters gathering most evenings, leaving behind empty cannabis bags and beer bottles.
Billericay Insp Richard Croft has vowed to take a zero tolerance approach, promising to ignore Home Office guidelines and arrest anybody found in possession of cannabis.
He said: "From the people we have stopped we know that hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin and crack are getting into Billericay.
"We have also got details that they are giving free samples away of cannabis mixed with hard drugs. It is clear the vulnerable youngsters hanging around down there are putting themselves in danger."
Published Friday July 9, 2004
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