New drug court launches in Barnsley - Barnsley Magistrates’ Court
The first of four new dedicated drug courts announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw was launched in Barnsley today. The new court will tackle the problem of drug abusing offenders who commit low-level crime to fund their addiction. When an offender is found guilty and sent to the dedicated drug court to be sentenced, the same magistrate or district judge will sentence the offender and review the progress of offenders on community orders with a drug rehabilitation requirement. Offenders will also be required to undergo regular drug tests. > Read more.

Warning of resurgence of 'lethal' white heroin
A form of high-grade white heroin is making a comeback on Britain's streets, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) warned today. Heroin hydrochloride was widespread during the 1970s but was replaced by more well-known "brown" heroin. Easy to snort and inject because it is water-soluble, white heroin's dangers were made clear in Quentin Tarantino's cult film Pulp Fiction, in which Uma Thurman's character snorts the powder, thinking it is cocaine, and then collapses. > Read more.