New Durham Chief Constable: We should 'help, not criminalise' drug users

By Kris Jepson

Durham Constabulary's new Chief Constable has told ITV News Tyne Tees the police should 'help, not criminalise' addicted drug users.

Speaking in her first ITV interview since taking over the role following the retirement of Mike Barton, Jo Farrell said she thinks a debate should be had on whether to legalise drugs and that "I’d be on the how do we prevent and help people (side of the debate), rather than them ending up in a cycle of being criminalised because of an addiction."

Watch @krisjepson's report here:

Jo Farrell is the first ever female Chief Constable of Durham Police. She comes with more than 25 years of experience, previously working at Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Northumbria Police.

She joined the force three years ago as deputy and to secure the top job she was interviewed by a panel of senior public figures, a community representative, and an external human resources expert and then psychometrically tested.

She told ITV News her priority was preventative rather than reactive policing.

Jo Farrell's predecessor, Mike Barton, served as Chief Constable for seven years and was an outspoken figure during that time, calling for changes in approaches to tackle drug addiction.

As a member of Barton's senior team for three years, the new Chief Constable said she will continue the work the force has done on the issue.

Durham Constabulary has recently been rated outstanding by government inspectors for an unprecedented fourth year running under the stewardship of Mr Barton.

In the forces annual Peel report, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services graded Durham Constabulary outstanding for effectiveness and efficiency and good for legitimacy.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell told ITV News she will continue to improve standards at the force and hopefully achieve an outstanding rating for a fifth year in a row.