FORMER cabinet minister Mo Mowlam says legalisation could be the only way to cure Swindon's drug epidemic.

In an interview with the Evening A dvertiser ahead of her visit to Swindon's Festival of Literature, the outspoken politician says she believes the Government must do more to tackle heroin addiction.

She said: "Heroin is a horrific drug. It destroys. We cannot accept the current situation and must fight it on all fronts."

Thirteen people died of drugs overdoses in Swindon last year.

Ms Mowlam, the former head of the Government's anti-drugs policy, says strict prohibition has not worked and suggests decriminalising all drugs, not just cannabis. "We need to remove money from the equation. Making it legal would regulate the market," she said.

Her conviction that a drastic change in strategy is needed follows visits to Colombia, a key cocaine supply centre.

An estimated 2,000 people use heroin in Swindon, compared with 1,200 four years ago.

Ms Mowlam says that through legalisation, taxes could be levied on the tested drugs and used to combat the scourge of addiction. "Huge amounts of money would be able to address problems with alcohol and hard drugs."

Ms Mowlam accused the Government of seeing a problem and delivering an outcome too soon. She said: "They act in haste. We must look at all the options, or we will never crack it."

Lashing out against the Government's refusal to legalise cannabis, she says the drug is used by many people. "It is hypocritical of parents to talk to their children about cannabis, holding a fag and whiskey," she said.

Ms Mowlam is visiting Swindon on Tuesday, May 7, to promote her book, Momentum, an account of her time in government. She said: "I'm also taking my book to supermarkets and a drug centre in Hull because I want it to reach everyone."

Jennie Harmston, drug and alcohol action team co-ordinator for Swindon Council, said: "We wait with interest to see what direction the Government will take. We concentrate on drugs as a health, not just criminal, issue."

She said she wanted to make sure that treatment for drug and alcohol addiction was accessible.

"We favour a realistic approach, encouraging education about drugs and their prevention in schools," she said.

See OUT! for full interview