Manchester's Spice epidemic

A Councillor's calling for Prime Minister to step in and help Manchester deal with the so-called Spice epidemic.

It's after police and ambulance crews dealt with almost 60 Spice related incidents in the City Centre over the weekend.

Extra officers are on patrol in and around Piccadilly Gardens but the emergency services say they are under increased pressure to deal with a problems that's spiralling our of control.

Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry from GMP’s City Centre team said: “We are doing all that we can to tackle the issue of people taking Spice in Greater Manchester. This is a problem that we cannot afford to get any worse.

“We have increased the number of specially trained officers to try and combat the issues and help those using Spice to access the support they need but to also ensure that danger of Spice is clearly communicated .

“Those who take spice are often left incapacitated or seriously ill need the help of our partners in the NHS and Ambulance Service. They can also become aggressive and become a danger to themselves and others.

“The truth is, tackling the issues caused by Spice is putting pressure on public services and is taking up a lot of our resources. Particularly in Manchester city centre.

“A multi-agency approach is the only way we can fight this battle. As a result we have been working with Manchester City Council’s Adults and Children's Services, rough sleeper team, outreach teams and local charities as well as North West Ambulance Service and the NHS.

Councillor Pat Karney has written a letter to Theresa May asking for the Government to help with funding vital support services to assist those vulnerable to taking Spice.

He told us, "I witnessed a 16-year-old boy who had taken Spice. Medics were helping him out, but he began fighting the medics and it took five cops to restrain him. So that seven people trying to save the life of one teeanger.

We need to stop the cuts in drug and alcohol services, as well as housing. Theresa May needs to realise this is going to happen in other towns and cities across the Country."