Cocaine-linked crimes on the rise in Britain as consumption surges

Exclusive: Wastewater analysis in England suggests people took roughly 2.5bn lines of drug in one year * Ageing users and record deaths – the data behind Britain’s £9.8bn-a-year cocaine habit * Pubs, festivals and workplaces: how cocaine has become an everyday habit British police are recording a growing number of crimes linked to cocaine, including assaults, domestic abuse and dangerous driving, as figures show consumption has surged across England. A Guardian investigation has found police forces across Britain recorded a 10% rise in crime rates associated with the class A drug since 2019, while the Home Office estimates cocaine usage at sites across England has risen by 26% since 2021. Continue reading...