THE amount of heroin seized by police in Worcester increased significantly last year, new figures have shown.

Police seized 113 grams of the class A drug in Worcester last year - compared with 39 grams in 2013, three grams in 2014 and zero grams in 2015.

The figures show that almost half of the 230 grams of heroin seized in South Worcestershire in 2016 was found in Worcester.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell, the police commander for South Worcestershire, said: “Drug seizures are a result of proactive policing which targets, on the basis of intelligence, those that supply drugs.

“As such, the figures that have risen are linked to our stance of dealing with those that supply drugs in a robust manner to prevent the blight that drugs cause in our communities”.

Dr Steve Brinksman, the medical director for the drug recovery charity Swanswell, was surprised by how low the seizure figures were before 2016.

“Although it seems a dramatic percentage increase, the overall amount is so small I don’t think it reflects a change in use,” he said.

“A reasonable heroin habit is half a gram per day. 113 grams is not even one year’s worth for a moderate user.

“The variation would account for one police officer making one arrest that could make all the difference.

“We are not seeing lots of new users coming through Worcester. We have several hundred in Worcester.”

The police also seized two millilitres of the heroin in Worcester last year, and found five bags and wraps in 2013, 52 in 2014, 117 in 2015 and 13 in 2016.

A heroin bag is normally 0.2 grams and costs about £10, whereas a wrap weighs less and costs between £2 and £5.

Mr Brinksman encouraged any drug addicts to come and see Swanswell at their centre in Castle Street, Worcester.

The figures were released in financial - not calendar - years and go up to the end of March.