DRUG users have been blamed for helping to fuel organised crime across Thurrock.

MP Jackie Doyle-Price offered her unreserved support to Essex Police to helping tackle knife crime in the borough and to stop knife crime in particular becoming an epidemic.

She said: “The growth in knife crime in Thurrock is in part driven by the organised criminal networks that peddle drugs through the grooming of young people.

“The practice is known as ‘county lines’ and is fuelling a rise in knife crime across Essex.

“This is serious organised criminal activity.”

County lines involves drug gangs from the capital coming into the area to deal often using vulnerable children and mobile phones to deliver the drugs.

Ms Jackie-Doyle-Price added: “Britain has become the biggest user of cocaine in Europe.

“My message to anyone who uses drugs, think on, you are propping up some very nasty people who are making a lot of money on the back of exploiting young people. “Put simply drug use is not a victimless crime.

“I am pleased Essex Police is to recruit an additional 150 officers to tackle this increase and I will give my support to the Police and Crime Commissioner to continue this expansion next year.

“As it is there has been some success.

“Last year Essex Police arrested 668 people suspected of being involved in drug and gang-related crime and seized drugs including heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis with a street value of £684,530.

“They also seized 149 weapons and £346,820 in cash earned through drug dealing.

“Policing is not the whole solution. We need to prevent young people from being drawn into this activity.

“I am pleased that our schools and colleges take this very seriously.

“And I welcome the work of Gangsline, an organisation run by ex-gang members who work to reduce the risk of young people becoming involved in gang activity.

“It is also organising gang prevention workshops in schools.

“In London there have been 1,299 stabbings causing 51 deaths so far this year.

“We need to clamp down on this now to stop this epidemic coming to Thurrock. I will give Essex Police my full support in making this a priority.”