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| Six deaths in three days raise fears of deadly class A drugs in Essex | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Police are investigating the possibility that a deadly batch of class A drugs is in circulation in south Essex after the deaths of six people since Sunday. | Police are investigating the possibility that a deadly batch of class A drugs is in circulation in south Essex after the deaths of six people since Sunday. |
| Three men and two women were found dead on Monday and Tuesday in circumstances which led officers to believe that they had taken drugs. Police would not reveal what substances the victims were believed to have taken. | Three men and two women were found dead on Monday and Tuesday in circumstances which led officers to believe that they had taken drugs. Police would not reveal what substances the victims were believed to have taken. |
| A woman in her 40s was found in Canvey Island on Tuesday evening, hours after a man in his 40s was found dead in the same town and a man in his 20s was found dead in Benfleet. | A woman in her 40s was found in Canvey Island on Tuesday evening, hours after a man in his 40s was found dead in the same town and a man in his 20s was found dead in Benfleet. |
| On Monday a woman in her 30s was found dead in Westcliff and a man in his 20s was discovered in Leigh-on-Sea. | On Monday a woman in her 30s was found dead in Westcliff and a man in his 20s was discovered in Leigh-on-Sea. |
| On Wednesday police said a sixth death was now thought to be linked to the deadly class A batch. Essex police said a woman in her 30s was found dead in Southend on Sunday morning. | On Wednesday police said a sixth death was now thought to be linked to the deadly class A batch. Essex police said a woman in her 30s was found dead in Southend on Sunday morning. |
| Ch Supt Kevin Baldwin said: “At this stage we believe these incidents are contained to the south of the county but part of our inquiries is to see whether other parts of Essex are affected. | Ch Supt Kevin Baldwin said: “At this stage we believe these incidents are contained to the south of the county but part of our inquiries is to see whether other parts of Essex are affected. |
| “We believe the deaths are linked to the taking of class A drugs and [we] are carrying out tests to establish exactly what the substance or substances involved are. | “We believe the deaths are linked to the taking of class A drugs and [we] are carrying out tests to establish exactly what the substance or substances involved are. |
| “Until we have the results of those tests we’re not going to speculate about what’s involved or how it was taken. Our message is clear though: if you are considering taking class A drugs, please don’t.” | “Until we have the results of those tests we’re not going to speculate about what’s involved or how it was taken. Our message is clear though: if you are considering taking class A drugs, please don’t.” |
| DCI Stephen Jennings said: “Another element of our investigation is to identify where the substances involved have come from and I need anyone who has information about the sale of class A drugs in south Essex – or elsewhere in the county – to come forward.” | DCI Stephen Jennings said: “Another element of our investigation is to identify where the substances involved have come from and I need anyone who has information about the sale of class A drugs in south Essex – or elsewhere in the county – to come forward.” |
| Public Health England urged drug users to be “extra careful about what they are taking”. In a statement, it said: “We strongly advise them not to use alone and to test a small amount first. | Public Health England urged drug users to be “extra careful about what they are taking”. In a statement, it said: “We strongly advise them not to use alone and to test a small amount first. |
| “They need to look out for each other and be alert to any signs of an overdose, such as lack of consciousness, shallow or no breathing, ‘snoring’, and blueing of the lips and fingertips. | “They need to look out for each other and be alert to any signs of an overdose, such as lack of consciousness, shallow or no breathing, ‘snoring’, and blueing of the lips and fingertips. |
| “They should immediately call for an ambulance and use any available naloxone if someone overdoses on opioids. We strongly advise all dependent drug users to get support from local drug services.” | “They should immediately call for an ambulance and use any available naloxone if someone overdoses on opioids. We strongly advise all dependent drug users to get support from local drug services.” |
| Drugs | Drugs |
| Essex | Essex |
| news | news |
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