THE number of children arrested for drug offences in Lancashire has decreased in recent years.

In 2013 a total of 98 children, aged 16 or under, were arrested for a range of offences, possession of a class A drug, and possession of class C drug with intent to supply. Four of them were aged 13 or under.

The most prolific offence was possession of cannabis, a class B drug, for which 66 children were arrested last year.

But numbers have been decreasing steadily year-on-year. In 2012 126 youngsters were arrested for drug offences, including 98 for possession of cannabis. In 2011, 145 were arrested for possession of cannabis, with 178 arrests made in total.

Numbers were even higher in 2010, when 222 young people were arrested for drug offences in Lancashire, including 157 for possessing cannabis, and 18 for producing cannabis.

The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request to Lancashire Constabulary.