But for Detective Chief Inspector Gary Goose, the fact the problem was raised by health workers and could then be investigated and publicised is an example of how a more joined-up approach to tackling drugs is working well.

And as the Cambridgeshire force's new lead officer on drugs intervention, helping to build that sort of co-operation between the different agencies involved is one of his aims.

Referring to our story last month about heroin circulating in the city which had been "cut" dangerously with anxiety medication benzodiazepine, he said: "The police project lead who works with me around drug intervention has done work with the hospital in terms of awareness of illegal drugs, and it began receiving an increase in heroin overdoses, which the routine treatment didn't seem to be working for.

"So the hospital contacted us and our intelligence officers asked their sources questions, and the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT ) and the drug service providers did the same.

"Information came back, and we have been able to identify what was mixed with the heroin, and the hospital has been able to amend its treatment so it can save lives.

"That's about as good an example of joined-up working as you are going to get."

DCI Goose was one of the deputy senior investigating officers on the Soham murders case and was in charge of liaison with the families of victims Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

After spending the last four years on "very difficult" work probing misconduct and criminal allegations made about other officers for the force's Professional Standards Department, he has now taken up the reins as Cambridgeshire's strategic lead for the Drugs Intervention Programme.

A national, 10-year campaign, it involves not just enforcement by the police, but education for youngsters and treatment for users.

DCI Goose, despite his 27 years as an officer, is the first to admit good police work alone is not the answer to the menace of illegal drugs.

He said: "Too many times we have arrested people for substantial series of house burglaries – and they have been kids in their mid to late teens – who have then gone into prison without any form of treatment, come out and started again.

"But if they start a treatment programme and continue it in prison, when they come out, there's more of a chance of long-term success.

"The two biggest reasons people re-offend when they come out are lack of accommodation and lack of a job. So if they also have the chance to get back into work and have suitable accommodation, all the evidence suggests that will prevent re-offending.

"If they don't, more people will have their houses burgled and their cars stolen and, tragically, be seriously injured when they are robbed."

In Peterborough, the effort to break the link between crime and drug use involves mandatory testing after arrests for crimes such as theft and drugs offences.