A POLICE chief in favour of decriminalising class A drugs has repeated his call for a reform of how addiction is treated.

Mike Barton, Chief Constable of Durham Police, spoke after visiting Copenhagen to study how the Danes deal with heroin addicts as part of a BBC documentary.

In September he called for a new approach that would remove dealers' profits by allowing the NHS or a similar organisation to supply the drug.

During the BBC's Inside Out programme to be shown on Monday night (February 4), Mr Barton said: "I have thrown the kitchen sink at drug dealing and drug taking for 34 years and it's not getting any better, in fact it's getting worse and I'm saying, let's have that honest debate.

"What I'm saying is, let's take the money out of the business."

A Durham Police spokesman added: "The Chief Constable feels very strongly that our current methods are simply not working and it makes sense to continue the debate so that alternatives can be explored.

"This is not about being soft on drugs, it's about being sensible."

Association of Chief Police Officers national policing lead on drug-related crime, Chief Constable Andy Bliss said: "Mike Barton is putting forward a perspective based on his extensive operational policing experience and his recent visit to Copenhagen.

"Ultimately, these are matters for Parliament to decide but I look forward to discussing in more detail with him what he has learnt."