POLICE are to use a dog to detect drugs and provide their own DJ as they try to make dances at Malton's Milton Rooms safer for young people.

Inspector Neil Burnett told the Malton rural west community and policing group at Hovingham that, in the past, dances at the leading Ryedale community hall had been "a thorn in our sides" due to drugs and public disorder.

Now as a result of the police working with the management committee, the situation had improved significantly, he said.

"Rather than using a big stick approach we are offering money to fund a drug sniffer dog for dances to make them safe events," said Inspector Burnett.

The police are also bring ing what he described as "a top flight" disc jockey who will have an anti-drugs dialogue for the youngsters.

One of Ryedale's leading drugs squad officer, Det Con Gary Ridler, said drugs were getting into the district from York and Scarborough. There had been an instance of a local dealer selling £10 worth of heroin for £5 to build up a customer base.

He said his aim was to make contact with more parents, teachers and licensees. Schools, added DC Ridler, had strict policies on drugs.

He said the biggest group of drug users were aged over 26, followed by those between 16 and 17, and those aged 17 to 21. There were few under 16.

Drug use was on the increase in North Yorkshire, but detection was improving.

Members of parish councils and other organisations at the meeting were shown an array of equipment used in drug taking and quantities of substances, some worth hundreds of pounds, which had been seized.

"I have yet to meet a heroin addict who didn't start on cannabis," said DC Ridler.

Questioned by a parent on how drug use should be detected in a child, he said their need for money and eating a considerable amount of bread were two signs. "Most teenagers don't go near cannabis," he added. But where people did get into the scene, drugs and crime went hand in hand, with shoplifting being a particular source of income.

The group heard that £47,000 had been allocated to fight drug abuse in Ryedale under a new Government scheme 'Communities Against Drugs'.

Updated: 09:18 Wednesday, October 09, 2002