More than 230 teenagers in the Gravesend area have been searched for drugs by the police in the past two years, we can reveal.

Among the total – 40% of all stop and searches – was a 13-year-old arrested for possession of a controlled drug in Clarence Place, Gravesend.

Meanwhile, 335 people aged between 20 and 54 were searched for drugs, which included the discovery of MDMA, cocaine, cannabis, and heroin.

The figures come from April 2011 to April 2013.

The most common place where searches have been carried out is Wrotham Road, Windmill Street, The Grove, Parrock Street, Milton Place, and London Road.

In total 40 women were stopped and searched while men made up 539 cases.

In addition, four searches were carried out at the gurdwara, two at St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School, one in Tesco, one in Wilkinson and seven at Asda.

The search at St John’s, however, was part of an educational programme to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs.

A spokesman said: “We are very pleased to say that the programme was very successful and no illegal substances were found.”

Police says it is committed to driving down drug use in Gravesend.

A spokesman for the force said: “Officers do not carry out random searches; they will only be made under the Misuse of Drugs Act which gives police grounds to carry out searches and are conducted as a result of intelligence.

“In the last two years, officers from Kent Police have carried out up to 10 operations focused on the night time economy in Gravesend which has included utilising drugs dogs and drug detection machines.

“Searches were carried out on those showing signs or symptoms of drugs use or as a result of findings from detection machines.”

Officers also work in partnership with a number of schools in putting on education days, which includes drugs talks and taking drugs dogs into schools.

If anyone has any concerns relating to drugs, call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.