CHILDREN smoking cannabis and yobbish behaviour in Kidlington have led to police action to crack down on the drug.

Police raided a house in the village following increasing worries about cannabis use in the area.

During the raid on a house in Chorefield on Tuesday(Feb 23) they discovered £10 worth of cannabis after searching the property.

Head of the Kidlington Neighbourhood Team, Sergeant Colin Travi, said a woman would be interviewed about the discovery.

He said: “Cannabis affects the community and we want to send a message out that we won’t tolerate drugs.

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“I think it is going to start a clampdown on antisocial behaviour and we are trying to send a message out that cannabis is illegal.

“I can say that we are dealing with more mental health cases, fear for welfare and antisocial behaviour. A lot of that is due to cannabis smoking – especially among children.”

Figures show a drop in cannabis-related offences in Kidlington, but Sgt Travi said police were seeing more problems with antisocial behaviour connected to the Class B drug.

There were 40 cannabis-related offences between April 2013 and February 2014. This dropped to 25 in the same period for 2014 to 2015.

Sgt Travi said: “Neighbours say they have seen exchanges being made and loud music being played at parties.”

“In the last three years there has been less crime, but more fear for welfare and antisocial behaviour problems. You can smell cannabis more around Kidlington now.

“I think society has accepted cannabis more now or [people] are less likely to report it. We are seeing the consequences of this such as fear for welfare and children using cannabis.

“We arrested one 15-year-old kid, who is 19 now, with cannabis twice. The last time I saw him he had depression, bi-polar and schizophrenia, and he has friends going through the same thing.”

He added: “I have seen an increase with younger people using cannabis because they do not go to the pub any more.”

Nursery manager Emma Walbridge, who witnessed the raid with her daughter, said: “It’s sad to think that it’s going on here.”

Daily cannabis user Michelle X, whose Abingdon house was raided by the police in 2013, said she needs the drug for her multiple sclerosis.

The 47-year-old said: “The police are just doing their job and they have no choice but to follow the law. But if they choose to use their budget doing this I think it is a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“I think cannabis needs to be reclassified.

“I smoke it because the prescriptions I am given don’t work.

“I function with cannabis and not without it and I can’t go back to work.”