Thames Valley Police seized less drugs last year, new figures have revealed.

Release, the national centre for drugs expertise, criticised the government’s figures on drug seizures and argued that they show the “futility of their efforts” as drug harm and death remains high.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said the government would continue to back police and the Border Force to use every available power to stop drugs from entering the country.

Mr Jenrick said the figures were instead evidence that the government’s approach has been effective as they “continue to go after the criminals who blight so many communities and destroy lives with these harmful substances”.

In the year to March 2022, there were only 679 total drug seizures by Thames Valley Police which is down from 1,608 in 2021.

There was also a fall in the number of seizures nationally, as 189,000 seizures were carried out last year which is fall of 14 per cent from 220,000 in 2021.

However, the police are seizing more cocaine, as the amount of cocaine seized rose from over 11,000kg in 2021 to nearly 19,000kg last year.

The amount of Ketamine seized also rose from 187kg to 1,837kg.

The Home Office said they were concentrating on more high quality seizures.

Niamh Eastwood, Release’s executive director, said: “The market continues unabated, and harms continue to be at an all-time high, especially in relation to the tragedy of drug-related deaths.

“It is unsurprising to see cocaine at the top of the Class A seizure tables given its popularity, but despite tens of thousands of kilos of cocaine being taken off the streets there will be little impact on the availability of the drug.

"We need to start to look at what other countries are doing, ending criminal sanctions for possession offences, and exploring regulated markets and reducing the harms that people are experiencing."

In the Thames Valley last year, 0.2kg of cocaine was confiscated and no ketamine was seized.

The highest amount of drugs was seized in London, 22 per cent, and the East of England, 12 per cent.

Police forces in the South East confiscated 9 per cent of the drugs seized across England and Wales.

Steve Dann, Border Force chief operating officer said: "These seizures send a clear message to anyone prepared to smuggle illegal drugs into the country that we remain committed to tackle often violent and exploitative drug supply chains.

"Border Force Officers involved in these seizures can be proud of their work in stopping these dangerous drugs from entering our communities."