There has been a huge increase in the amount of the highly addictive drug crack cocaine on the streets of Devon and Cornwall.

Police say there has been a five-fold increase in the number of cases involving the drug over the past two years.

The drug is relatively cheap, widely available and has become more prevalent in Torbay and Plymouth.

Devon and Cornwall Police have launched Operation Ovidian to try to stem the flow across both counties.

Anybody trying to bring the drug in, we'll be chasing them

DC Mike Bradley

Crack enters the blood stream quickly, giving the user an intense rush and is very addictive.

The fact that crack is cheap has made it increasingly the drug of choice for addicts.

Drugs liaison officer Detective Constable Mike Bradley said: "Certainly a few months ago what we saw was that the quality of heroin was reduced.

"And therefore the crack dealers could introduce crack cocaine at a cheaper price to the heroin users.

"Then when they became addicted to the crack, they put the price up."

Crack comes with another social cost - violent crime.

Devon and Cornwall Police now have staff solely looking at the problems the drug is creating.

Search warrants

Detective Constable Mike Bradley said: "We have a dedicated officer who is purely looking at any intelligence to do with crack cocaine.

"We're executing search warrants, we're stopping people coming into the city.

"Anybody trying to bring the drug in, we'll be chasing them."

Police operations

Officers are working with other forces to try to tackle the problem.

But some police operations have played a part in dispersing the availability of crack cocaine from London to Bristol, and now to other areas such as the South West.

Devon and Cornwall's police authority is discussing the what the force has done to tackle the problem.