FEWER drug seizures were carried out by Avon and Somerset police during the first year of the pandemic, despite a significant increase in drug hauls nationally.

Police chiefs say a drop in calls from the public during parts of 2020-21 meant forces across England and Wales had more capacity to proactively police drugs crimes and disrupt illicit dealing and county lines activity.

Home Office data shows Avon and Somerset Constabulary carried out 4,075 seizures in the year to March – down 17% from 4,883 the year before.

There were 220,000 seizures nationally, up more than a fifth from 2019-20.

In 2020-21, there were 3,863 drug crimes recorded across Avon and Somerset, a 2% rise from 3,779 in 2019-20.

The offences contributed to the 210,000 logged nationally last year – a record high.

Dr Laura Garius, Release's policy lead, said the organisation's monitoring of UK drug purchasing during the pandemic found more people reported an increase in consumption.

She said: "Just as we see with recorded drug offences, drug seizures reflect policing activity and priorities, rather than accurately reflecting drug market activity."

Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine were seized by Avon and Somerset police 625 times during 2020-21, but cannabis was a factor in the largest proportion of all seizures – 74%.

Variations of the class B substance were found in 2,997 seizures, with police confiscating 7,611 cannabis plants as a result.

Nationally, 71% of all drugs seizures involved cannabis.

Dr Garius said it was the drug most responsible for bringing people into the justice system and called for its legislation, saying doing so would prevent the criminalisation of thousands.