BBC News Online: UK

Drug dens exploit legal loophole

Police and the Association of London Government, which represents councils in London, say criminal gangs are exploiting a legal loophole that makes it impossible to close down drug dens where crack cocaine is sold and consumed.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is illegal for the owner or occupier of a property to allow cannabis or opium to be smoked on the premises.

But the law does not apply to crack cocaine, one of the most addictive illegal drugs, because it was not widely used at the time of the 1971 legislation.

When police raid a crack house, users usually throw the drug and pipes used to smoke it onto the floor.

Then, because they are no longer in actual possession of the drug, there is nothing that the police can charge them with.

They cannot prosecute the owner of the property or anyone there.

Drug-related crime

In London alone there are an estimated 150 operating crack houses and there were 40 murders related to the drug last year.

Government drugs czar Keith Hellawell has estimated the proceeds of up to a third of property crime are spent on heroin and crack cocaine alone.

Drug-related crime is estimated to cost the country around £2.5bn a year, while almost two-thirds of criminals test positive for one or more drugs.