DRUG addicts in the region who sell heroin to other users will not face prosecution under a new scheme, a North-East police chief has confirmed.

Durham Police Chief Constable Mike Barton has said that those found in possession of drugs, including class A narcotics cocaine and heroin, would not go to court if they agreed to go on a four-month programme.

The scheme, called Checkpoint, would come into effect as soon as December following a two-year pilot launched to resolve lifestyle and mental health issues for addicts who would otherwise face court.

Mr Barton said the rollout would allow his force to tackle criminal gangs who profit from users’ addictions to fund their enterprises.

The Home Office has confirmed, however, that it has no plans to decriminalise drugs.

Mr Barton said: “From next month, anyone caught in possession of any drugs will go on Checkpoint. If they agree, they will not face prosecution or go to court.

“If they are selling heroin to feed their habit, we do not want to send them to prison.

“They are technically dealers but if they are sad people rather than bad, we want to stop their addiction. Then we can focus on the really bad people.

“What’s the point in an addict going to court and getting a £50 fine? If they pay it at all, they will only steal or sell five bags of heroin to fund it. How does that help us?”

Durham Police chief Mr Barton has controversially called for the decriminalisation of class A drugs in the past and to reform how addiction is treated.

His comments have been met with caution by some of the region’s Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC), with Vera Baird, PCC for Northumbria, stating “drug taking is on the decline so I think his argument is weakened”.

Durham and Darlington's Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Ron Hogg, gave his chief constable his full backing to the policy, but the Government has confirmed its approach to drugs offences.

A Home Office spokesman said: “This Government has no intention of decriminalising drugs.

“It is vital that the police and criminal justice system have a range of measures available to them to prevent drug use.

“However, they also have the tools to deal robustly with serious and repeat offenders who cause the most harm in our communities.”

The plan has been criticised by a charity supporting families of those with drug and alcohol addictions.

Elizabeth Burton-Phillips, who set up DrugFAM after losing her son to heroin addiction in 2004, said: “This is absolutely wrong. If you are an active drug dealer, you are dealing in death.”