EDUCATION chiefs and council leaders are drawing up a policy aimed at tackling drug problems in Blackburn and Darwen's schools.

Bill Taylor, the borough's education and training chairman, has started to take a close look at the problem of drug abuse.

The move follows the appointment of Keith Helliwell, the former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire police force, as the country's drug czar.

Mr Helliwell, who started work on New Year's Day, says his first task will be to collect as much information on the problem of drugs as possible.

And one of the areas he will be taking a look at is the problem of drug abuse among young people.

Blackburn town hall will take over the running of schools this April when the council becomes independent of Lancashire County Council.

Council chiefs have been drawing up a series of policies which will shape education in the borough following local government reorganisation.

Coun Bill Taylor said: "We have started working on a policy but there is very little we can do until we take over the running of schools and colleges in April.

"We would be extremely naive to think that young people today do not have easy access to controlled drugs.

"It is very easy in all our towns and cities to get hold of controlled substances and we must be concerned about that.

"As a local education authority, we want to work in partnerships with other agencies and organisations including the drug advice groups to tackle this problem.

"We would be extremely silly just to sit back and do nothing about the situation."

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