STUDENTS discovered more about the work of the justice system at a forum at Northallerton College.

A panel of teenagers were given the chance to question representatives from the police, Crown Prosecution Service, magistrates' bench, Youth Offending Team and probation and prison services.

Student Laura Collins asked: "What is being done to prevent young people from becoming involved with drugs?"

Chief Inspector Ken McIntosh told her: "Drug users are having to steal goods worth £100,000 to feed their habits. If you have a lot of heroin users in your area crime does go up massively."

But community safety sergeant Matthew France said police were targeting people on the streets and executing warrants to search homes for drugs.

The governor of Northallerton Young Offenders' Institution, Norman Griffin, said his staff went to great lengths to keep drugs out of prisons, which were often targeted by professional dealers.

"Drugs in prisons undermine everything we are trying to do," he said.

Students were told that the Youth Offending Team worked closely with local drugs agencies and offenders.

Students also asked the justice forum panel about issues ranging from prison overcrowding, to time off for good behaviour, why the system appears to be stacked against victims, bail conditions, protection from paedophiles and whether a youth centre would help reduce crime and the fear of crime.