A leading charity has told ministers that it is time to end the war on drugs.

The government has also been urged to provide safe facilities where addicts can use drugs in hygienic conditions.

In a report published on Thursday, Nacro said that such a move would help to address the problem of open drugs misuse on the streets and estates of Britain.

"However undesirable drug taking may be, it is a feature of modern British life. Most drug use has little serious impact on the community," argued report author Dr Marcus Roberts.

"Whether it is the teenager experimenting with cannabis or the heroin addict committing burglary to get money for drugs, one thing we know is that these problems are not going to be sorted out by the police, courts, customs and prisons alone. We've tried that and it hasn't worked."

With the illegal drugs market in the UK valued at between £10 billion and £20 billion a year, the report said that attempts to deal with the problem by law enforcement alone could not solve the problem.

Britain's overly punitive drugs laws are also undermining the effective development of strategies to support and treat crack and heroin addicts, the crime reduction charity argued.

Almost 12,000 people are now in jail for drugs offences and many will require treatment for addiction.

The report also said that sentences for drug-related crime are "disproportionately tough".

Supply of a Class B drug carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, greater than that for the illegal possession and supply of firearms.

And the law fails to distinguish between criminal gangs making millions and young people buying small quantities of drugs on behalf of their friends, it was claimed.

The government was encouraged to provide improved treatment services for those addicted to hard drugs.

Around three quarters of the money spent on tackling drugs is spent on policing, courts, prisons, customs and associated law enforcement measures, said Nacro.

The current emphasis on policing and punishment should be refocused on getting addicts off drugs while minimising the harm caused by those who use them.

"Everyone who looks at this problem now agrees that the 'war against drugs' is over, but now it is time to decide what as a society we want to take its place," said Roberts.

"We need to provide drug addicts with help and support and to look at the social and personal problems that often lie behind the most damaging kinds of drug use.

"Sending heroin or crack addicts to prison simply for possessing drugs has done little to reduce supply or demand and much to exacerbate the problems that have led people to take hard drugs in the first place."