LANCASHIRE police have found religion in a bid to give drugs advice to Asian communities.

In a new initiative, the Constabulary has launched a factsheet, Islamic Law and Drugs which quotes religious law forbidding the taking of drugs.

The booklet is the first of it's kind in the country and will be distributed by community groups and religious leaders to young Asians.

The scheme has been funded by local businesses and the county's Partnership Against Crime.

Chief Inspector Frank Harding, of the Partnership, said: "There'll always be people who will never take drugs and those who always will, but there's some in between who are undecided.

"By linking the drugs issue not just with criminal law but with Islamic law, we hope to sway these undecided people into the 'don't take' brigade. Young Asians may realise drink and tobacco are forbidden but may not have linked their religious beliefs with drugs. If it saves just one life, the scheme will have been a success. We can never stop trying to get the message across."

Businessmen Ilyas Ahmed and Rafique Omer, who run fashion companies Gemini and Pricewise, have put up £4,000 to fund the project. Rafique said: "We have factories in Preston and want to put something back into the community to make youngsters aware of the Islamic stance on drugs."

Assistant Chief Constable of the Force Tarique Ghaffur, who was the first Asian officer in the country to achieve such a senior position, was also at the launch. He said: "There is a substantial amount of drug-related crime and we want to tackle the root causes."

Talks are now underway to produce a drugs awareness video aimed at Islam and other ethnic cultures.

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