Drug dealers are taking over communities in south Wales, according to a report unveiled by the Chief Constable of South Wales Police.

Sir Anthony Burden said there had been a 14% increase in hard drug users in the last 12 months.

Chief Constable Burden: Crime fears

He outlined the severity of the drugs problem in a report to a meeting of the South Wales Police Authority on Monday.

The report also revealed concern were rising over the threat of "gangland battles" breaking out between criminal groups as the drugs issue escalates.

Sir Anthony said drug addicts were responsible for more than half of all crimes across three Welsh police forces.

"Three-quarters of crack and heroin users claim to be committing crime to feed their habit," he said.

"They are responsible for 54% of all crime - which is 4% above the UK average.

He also revealed that �53m was spent on heroin each year.

"The potential amount of heroin bought each year from the proceeds of crime comes to �25m," he added.

The figures have been put together by officers working on Operation Tarian, which was established to tackle the spread of Class A drugs - such as heroin and cocaine - across the region.

Drugs deaths

It has been estimated there are 8,750 drug addicts within the Gwent Police, South Wales Police and Dyfed-Powys Police force areas, as well as 32,000 "recreational" drug users.

Intelligence discovered crack was arriving on the streets of south Wales within 24 hours of leaving Jamaica.

There has been an influx of drugs into the area

The report also stated a total of 270 people died from hard drugs in south Wales in 2000.

Operation Tarian was started to combat fears that crime gangs were set to move into south Wales from London and Bristol.

Since April 2002, 216 drug-related arrests have been made and drugs worth �1.5m have been seized.

Last week, the Welsh Assembly pledged �2.5m to the operation.

Edwina Hart, Assembly Minister for Communities, said fighting drugs was a very serious issue.

"We are concerned for the human misery that will inevitable result from use of these hard drugs," she said.

"But also because users will turn to crime to feed their habits and from gangland battles."