Shropshire MP wants GHB drug reclassified

SHROPSHIRE MP Owen Paterson today urged the Government to reclassify the drug GHB after it was linked to two deaths in the county.

Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paterson, who is MP for North Shropshire,said today he will contact Home Secretary Theresa May urging her to consider upgrading the drug from Class C to Class B.

The move comes after Mr Paterson met some of the county's top police officers to discuss the problem.

Mr Paterson said: "I am told that the drug is extremely addictive and is being linked to two deaths in Oswestry, where it appears that there may be tens or even hundreds of people taking the drug on a regular basis.

"However, the drug is still classed only as Grade C.

"I congratulate West Mercia Police for taking this extremely seriously."

West Mercia Police has urged the Government to look at the way the drug is viewed after Oswestry was officially recognised as having more users per head of population than anywhere else in Britain.

Mr Paterson met with Superintendent Peter Lightwood, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards, and Chief Inspectors David McWilliam and Martin Whitelegg at West Mercia's divisional headquarters in Shrewsbury.

"We agreed that West Mercia Police will write to me and I will pass on the request to the Home Secretary. We will be urging her to consider reclassifying GHB from Grade C to Grade B."

Last month police launched Operation Bubble, involving about 100 police officers. Teams of police raided eight homes, seven in Shropshire and made 13 arrests. These led to some people being cautioned and others being bailed while police made more inquiries.

The police operation was the culmination of up to six months' work and was part of a much wider, community initiative to deal with the drug in Oswestry.

Members of Oswestry Pubwatch are due to discuss the problem at a meeting tomorrow. A health campaign has been launched.

By Sue Austin