MORE than ten per cent of those arrested for drug offences in North Yorkshire last year were under the age of 18.

Figures also show 96 out of the 1,036 arrests for drug offences made in 2013 were aged under 17, with the youngest being just 13.

However the number of drug arrests in total was down on previous years, from 1,211 in 2012, 1,320 in 2011 and 1,255 in 2010 although the ratio of under-18s remained roughly similar.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said the figures showed that access to drugs was not limited to adults and reinforced the fact that everyone had a duty of care to deal with this behaviour.

“Sadly, children do have access to drugs and it’s important that intervention is made at an early age to prevent them from getting caught up in criminality which is often associated with drugs,” she said “North Yorkshire Police work with a number of organisations to identify children at risk and drive forward effective initiatives to identify, assess and support those children at the earliest opportunity.

“This approach includes actively engaging with the young person and their family as well as working innovatively with partners within the criminal justice system and other agencies to maximise early intervention and prevention approaches, with the aim of diverting children away from a life of crime to become responsible members of society.”

She added: "We all have a duty of care – from parents and professionals to the wider community - to ensure our young people grow up in a nurturing and positive environment and go on to become law-abiding adults.”