Manslaughter arrests after contaminated heroin kills man

A man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a contaminated batch of heroin killed at least one person and caused a series of overdoses.

Forensic tests confirmed the batch contained the high-strength synthetic opioid etonitazene - part of the nitazene group of drugs linked to a spate of deaths across the country in recent years.

An alert from the Cheshire and Merseyside Local Drug Information System said five people had overdosed - including one fatally - in the Southport area since 13 April.

Merseyside Police said it was questioning a 51-year-old man from the town and a 32-year-old woman from Waterloo in connection with the death.

The force said a 62-year-old man had been found dead at a home on Leyland Road in Southport on 13 April.

It said in a statement: "A post mortem has been carried out and toxicology enquiries are ongoing.

"There have also been reports of non-fatal overdoses in the area in recent weeks and some people have required hospital treatment."

Dr Rory McGill, Sefton Council's director of public health, called the reports "deeply concerning".

He said: "Nitazenes are far stronger than heroin and dramatically increase the risk of overdose, particularly when people do not know the substance is contaminated.

"We are urging anyone who uses drugs, or who knows someone who does, to take extra precautions.

"Avoid using alone, use much smaller amounts than usual, and carry naloxone [a drug which reverses opioid overdoses] where possible."

Dr McGill urged people to immediately dial 999 if they see anyone showing signs of having overdosed.

According to the alert, Merseyside Police confirmed all the overdoses were linked to the same batch of heroin.

It said the man's 13 April death was followed by two people overdosing in Southport town centre.

Two others reported smoking what they thought was heroin, only to experience "immediate and intense sedation".

It said: "Nitazenes are significantly more potent than heroin or morphine.

"Even a very small amount can cause rapid and life-threatening respiratory depression – meaning breathing can slow or stop with very little warning."

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