A second person has died and least eight people have been hospitalised after a lethal batch of heroin was circulated in North Devon.
Four people have been arrested after Devon & Cornwall Police found an unusually strong batch of heroin was circulated in the area.
By midnight on Saturday a total of eight people had been treated in hospital after they had believed to have taken some of the heroin.
Two men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance.
On Friday evening, emergency service partners in the area declared a major incident because of the threat posed to the drug-taking community after police became aware at around 5pm that the batch of the Class A drug was circulating locally.
‘The major incident was stood down on Saturday morning – but now a second man has died from the drug.
Police said: ‘One man died as a result of taking the substance on Friday.
While the major incident was stood down on Saturday morning, a second man who had earlier been admitted to hospital, died late on Saturday – believed to be as a result of taking the same substance.’
North and West Devon local policing area commander Superintendent Toby Davies said: ‘As soon as we were made aware of the issue this substance was likely to cause on Friday evening, we did everything possible with partners to reach out to the drug using community to warn them of potential danger they were facing.
‘We continue to work with health partners to warn those who may be substance users to exercise extreme caution. However, we would reassure the community we believe this is now contained.
‘Health partners are continuing to work with local drug users in a bid to safeguard them as much as possible, but we would continue to urge any users to exercise extreme caution.
‘Advice remains that if you feel you are suffering an adverse reaction or are in the company of someone in a need of urgent medical attention, call 999 for appropriate care and help.’
The College of Policing defines a major incident as ‘an event or situation requiring a response under one or more of the emergency services’ major incident plans’ and one that ‘will usually include involving large numbers of people, either directly or indirectly’.
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