POLICE and crime commissioner Bill Longmore has revealed his anger over drug use - saying there are "too many people walking our streets who are dangerous".

The elected figurehead of West Mercia Police has issued a stinging attack on drug peddlers in the county, saying the force faces a fight we've got to win.

Mr Longmore, a former police officer, claims in all his career he's never seen as many dangerous drugs being pumped out from foreign factories to the UK as now.

He also says part of his emerging strategy for next year is an extra focus on sellers and users to try and make a difference.

"This concerns me, there are too many people walking our streets who are dangerous, I'm saying that because I truly believe it," he said.

"The police are facing all sorts of problems because there are so many people out there, we have got to address it because it's an urgent problem.

"We are trying to do everything we can. But I'm not going to say it's a losing battle - it's a battle we've got to fight and we've got to win."

His comments follow the release of a report showing how recorded crimes across the West Mercia Police force area are up 4.8 per cent in a year.

It includes a 28 per cent rise in incidents of violence which left someone injured, a six per cent rise in domestic burglaries and 16 per cent extra robberies.

Incidents of anti-social behaviour are down four per cent but every other category is up over the last 12 months.

Mr Longmore also said there is "more cannabis and heroin" coming out of countries like Afghanistan than ever before, calling it a dangerous situation.

Chief constable David Shaw said: "The Government is introducing legislation this parliament to address 'legal highs', which will give us more tools to tackle this."