UK - How you're helping in drugs war (police snitch a dealer scheme)

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www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
THERE are more than 70 suspected heroin dealers in the town and the police need your help to keep an eye on them.

Officers have been hammering down doors, stopping motorists and picking people up off the streets as they clamp down on drug dealers in the town.

And much of their success has been down to members of the public.

Now police are hoping the launch of the new Adver-backed Swindon Drugs Hotline will see even more information coming their way.
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PC Nigel Lord said: "We can't do it without the public's help.

"We have got intelligence on more than 70 different individuals dealing heroin in Swindon at the moment and we need help in targeting them."

Last week police found £25,000 worth of heroin in the back of a BMW, while university graduate Fhuad Mohammed was given 60 hours community service at Swindon Magistrates' Court for dealing cannabis.

He was caught after a woman who lived near his Milton Road flat blew the whistle.

On August 1 we reported how police raided two houses in Penhill after a build up of intelligence, spanning over the last couple of months.

Six thousand pounds in cash and class C drugs were discovered, as well as electronic scales, commonly used by dealers.

The police praised the public for their help after a man and woman in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of dealing class A drugs.

PC Lord said: "The majority of the raids carried out are as a result of information that we have received from the public.

"Obviously the actions of drug dealers are clandestine and there are not as many of us as there are members of the public so they play a vital role."

On June 15 we revealed how a tip-off from the public led to the discovery of a suspected drugs den on Manchester Road.

A man was arrested after class A drugs, syringes and several other items of stolen property, including bicycles and games consoles were found.

And two properties were searched for drugs in the town centre at the end of May after members of the public came forward with information over possible drug dealing in Corporation Street.

Heroin and cash were discovered and a 40-year-old man was arrested.

In February, police found £9,000-worth of heroin and cocaine and an imitation firearm when they raided a flat in Little London, Old Town.

On that occasion Sgt Scott Hargreave emphasised the importance of public information as part of the war on drugs.

Council crackdown on the crackhouses
THE council is determined to evict any tenants who open their homes to drug users.

The local authority has closed three crackhouses in Swindon since new powers came into effect last year and anti-social behaviour co-ordinator Cheri Wright says they will act on any information they are given.

Ms Wright, pictured right, said: "The three crackhouses were having a detrimental effect on the community, both locally and in the wider community.

"Since we have closed them down, the communities have had respite and peace, which was the aim.

"From that respect it's been a success."

In September last year Tracey Toombs was evicted from her home in Shirley Close, Walcot, for dealing drugs.

That followed the case of Declan McGettigan, 49, who was ordered by Swindon Magistrates' Court to leave his council house in Inglesham Road for allowing Class A drugs to be dealt from his home.

In February 2005 Hosea Stewart's Emlyn Square flat was raided by police, who found it full of drug paraphernalia.

They found 10 people and made four arrests, before organising for the flat to be boarded up.

It was the first crackhouse in Wiltshire to be shut down as part of Operation Crackdown.

Ms Wright said: "It obviously gives reassurance to the community that if they provide the intelligence we can act and have a real effect on where they live.

"We work closely with the police and share information to ensure we are using the appropriate tools to deal with the problem on a permanent basis.

"Should the need arise when we have tried to deal with an issue like this, closing the property is a measure we will use and it clearly works so we would have no hesitation at all."

Penhill councillor Andy Harrison (Independent) said that the Inglesham Road closure had been a great relief for residents in the area.

"It's made a big difference," he said.

"At the end of the day people haven't got the annoyance of people coming and going or the fear of finding needles thrown about.

"That's the biggest fear. People feel they can't let their kids out to play because there will be needles around.

"The closure did make a difference and I would encourage anybody who knows about drug dealers in their area not to be afraid to report it.

"The police and council do put the information together and it helps the authorities build up a picture which they can then use to target the appropriate premises."