DRUG addicts will be given prescribed heroin while police step up their crackdown on dealers, if new plans to tackle crime in the North-East are approved by the Home Office.

Children will be taught the dangers of drug abuse from an early age to complete the controversial three-pronged approach Cleveland Police want to take.

The moves were approved by police authority members during a debate about drugs and now they hope Teesside will become a pilot zone.

"There is no single answer to dealing with the challenge of drug use in society," said authority chairman Ken Walker.

"What is needed is a multi-track approach where we continue to tackle the criminal drugs trade at the same time as developing services for the treatment of addicts and improving education about drugs, especially among young people."

The idea of prescribing heroin to existing addicts has proved successful in Switzerland and saw dramatic falls in burglaries, robberies and shop thefts. Similar schemes in Germany and Holland have also had positive results.

The idea is that as users are getting the drug they need, they do not need to steal to feed their addictions, so there is less crime.

Members of the police authority heard from Dr Ian Guy, who has developed pioneering work in the treatment of addicts on Tees-side.

He said the treatment depended on the patient and worked with them to let them control the amount of drugs they needed.

Councillor Walker warned the measures were not opening the door to widespread legalisation.

Meanwhile, officers across Teesside will maintain their Dealer a Day campaign to take the demand and supply of illegal drugs out of the market.