SOCIAL media giant Twitter has been urged to crack down on accounts using the platform to advertise drugs for sale in Barrow.

Brazen criminals appear to have been using the app to advertise the sale of class A drugs across the country and in south Cumbria.

Barrow's MP has called on the platform to remove the accounts.

It follows a probe by this newspaper that found Twitter accounts were using the platform as a shopfront to sell illegal substances.

Dealers then direct prospective buyers to anonymous messaging apps to organise to supply the drugs.

The Mail found earlier this year accounts were advertising drugs. Since then new accounts like these have not been removed by Twitter.

MP Simon Fell said: "I will be raising this again with Twitter direct.

"It costs drug dealers nothing to set these accounts up but yet they can make thousands from each one and cause untold misery.

"These accounts are in direct breach of Twitter's terms and conditions and should be taken down.

"The Online Safety Bill which is in the final stages of consideration in the House of Lords holds social media firms directly responsible for enforcing their T&C's and, if they fail to do so like in this case, they can be fined up to 10 per cent of global revenue.

"I can think of no better example of why we need this law in place now."

Twitter was contacted for comment.

According to site policies, users 'may not use our service for any unlawful purpose or in furtherance of illegal activities', including' facilitating transactions in illegal goods or services, as well as certain types of regulated goods or services'.  

"Twitter takes the safety of our users seriously," its website says.

"In an effort to address the potential for real-world harm, we do not allow the use of Twitter for any unlawful behavior or to further illegal activities.

"This includes selling, buying, or facilitating transactions in illegal goods or services, as well as certain types of regulated goods or services. In some cases, we may ask you to contact a law enforcement agency and have them contact us via our law enforcement request page to ensure we have enough context to enforce this policy.

"In addition to reports received, we proactively surface activity that may violate this policy for human review. 

People can report drug dealing activity to 101 or at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit, and the relevant social media platforms.