GWENT police have refused to back calls from a controversial Welsh chief constable to have heroin sold in pharmacies.

Richard Brunstrom, the North Wales chief constable, said legalisation of the drug should be considered.

However, Gwent police's drugs education and prevention officer, Detective Constable Lyn Webber, said his force was opposed to the legalisation of the Class A drug.

The Gwent constabulary follows Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines that oppose the lifting of bans on illegal drugs.

DC Webber said: "Mr Richard Brunstrom is entitled to his personal opinion, however Gwent police follows the ACPO guidelines in relation to this matter.

"To that end, we do not support legalisation or open sale of any controlled drug.

"It is not the role of the police service to advocate measures without clear and expert medical or scientific opinion."

During a Dragon's Eye programme, Mr Brunstrom said: "The question is actually not 'Am I prepared to see the government selling heroin on the street corner or through the pharmacy?' But why would we not want to do that? What is wrong with that?"

In 2000, we reported how former Gwent Chief Constable Francis Wilkinson said all drugs should be legalised and sold in a controlled environment.

He said: "My view is that a regime or regulation should be applied to all drugs that are currently illegal."