Calls have been made to get tough on drug users, rather than simply going after dealers, in a bid to cut crime in Kent.

Around 300,000 people across England are addicted to illegal substances, such as heroin and crack cocaine, according to Whitehall.

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Kent Police's serious and organised crime team recovered 122.5kg of class A drugs from various crime groups in the county from April 2021 to March 2022.

Medway councillor Habib Tejan (Con) described the illegal drug industry as a "revolving door" system as he called for users to be "targeted" - and dealers.

He said: "It's all well and good trying to target drug dealers, but what about the users?

"Those who are fuelling the purchase and the crime. Can we look at that?"

His comments were made in front of senior police officers and councillors at the Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel yesterday (Sep 28) at County Hall, Maidstone.

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott said the local force needs to be "tough" on drug using during the public debate.

He said: "Drug use, unfortunately and tragically, does lead to other criminality in some circumstances.

"There are wider issues we need to deal with. Enforcement has to be a part of that, as well as the other interventions that go around that."

In 2021/22, a police investigation was made into the supply of cocaine from Europe into the UK, which was distributed in Kent and south east London.

The probe led to the arrest of a crime group and seizure of large quantities of cocaine and amphetamine, as well as valuable watches and £850,000 in cash.

In July, the Conservative government launched a white paper to bring in "swift, certain and tough"" penalties for illegal drug users, such as cocaine and heroin.

At the time, Home Secretary Priti Patel said recreational users are "putting money into the pockets of dangerous drug gangs" as a Home Office public consultation on drug using is due to close next month.

The main solutions proposed include fines, cautions and drug awareness courses.

Under this, a three-tier system may be introduced, which includes issuing a fixed penalty notice and drug awareness course for first-time offenders.

Second-time offenders would be given a caution and mandatory drug testing, alongside further drug awareness courses.

Third-time offenders would be charged with exclusion orders, drug tagging, passport confiscation and driving licence disqualification.

After yesterday's meeting, Mr Scott said: "You do need enforcement on drug using and to see people held to account over possession, where it is a criminal offence.

"There also needs to be prevention work, whether that is from a public health perspective around the impact of drugs on people's lives, or, targeting those areas where drug dealing is taking place to prevent it from happening.

"Finally, there is treatment. We can't break the cycle of drugs and crime, if we do not treat the problem either."