Breaking news: One dead and eight in hospital after ‘bad batch’ of heroin sees major incident declared in North Devon

A man has died and eight people have been hospitalised in North Devon after what is believed to be an ‘unusually strong’ batch of heroin was circulated locally.

Police said today (Saturday) four people have been arrested and a major incident was declared on Friday evening due to the threat posed to the region’s drug taking community. The alert was stood down on Saturday morning.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the force and its partners became aware of the issue at around 5pm on Friday, which was followed by the emergency services declaring a major incident.

By midnight on Saturday, a total of eight people had been treated in hospital after they had believed to have taken some of the heroin. This covered three locations across North Devon in Westward Ho!, Bideford and Barnstaple.

Sadly, a ninth person, a man, died having taken a substance, despite medical treatment at the scene.

After a police investigation, two men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance. All currently remain in custody.

North and West Devon area commander Superintendent Toby Davies said: “As soon as we were made aware of the issue this substance was likely to cause on Friday evening, we did everything possible with partners to reach out to the drug using community to warn them of potential danger they were facing.

“We continue to work with health partners to warn those who may be substance users to exercise extreme caution. However, we would reassure the community we believe this is now contained.

“If anyone fears they are in danger or are in the company of someone suffering a medical episode, we would ask they contact 999 to seek appropriate medical help.”