The government has set out a new strategy to tackle addiction and drug related crime.

New cross-force police "hit squads" are set to swoop on "middle drug markets" - breaking the chain between traffickers and local dealers.

Efforts will focus on a group of 250,000 Class A drug users who are said to account for 99 per cent of the social costs of drug abuse.

Key to the new approach will be "education, prevention and treatment" allied with action against drug dealers and treatment for addicts.

David Blunkett, the home secretary, said: "Young people are our highest priority. They need good quality drug education, information and advice based on a credible assessment of the damage drugs do."