Pubdate: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 Source: Herald, The (UK) Copyright: 2000 The Herald Contact: 195 Albion Street Glasgow G1 1QP Fax: +44 (0)141 302 7809 Website: http://www.theherald.co.uk/ Author: Craig Watson AGENCY SETS ITS SIGHTS ON DEALERS Scotland's first police organisation dedicated to tackling drug crime was launched yesterday with a plea to the public to help track down dealers. Deputy Justice Minister Angus MacKay and senior police officers said the formation of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) was a major step forward in the war against drugs. A poster campaign was also unveiled at the launch, which took place three months after the agency was set up. It has already been involved in several successful operations across the country and is also understood to be working with other oganisations to gather intelligence on the 21 deaths from contaminated heroin in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dublin. Mr MacKay said the Scottish Executive had committed pounds 10m over two years to set up the SDEA, which is based in Paisley. He added: "This is a very good day for Scottish communities and a very bad day for drug dealers in Scotland. The creation of the agency means that, for the first time, Scotland has an agency dedicated to tackling drug crime. It will genuinely help police forces to catch those who profit from the human misery that results from the drugs trade. "We can and we must remove the drug menace and those who thrive on it. The best way to do that is through partnership. The public have a critical role to play by providing the police with any information about the illicit distribution of drugs." He urged members of the public to call the confidential Crimestoppers telephone number in Scotland, 0800 555 111, with any information about drug crime. SDEA director Jim Orr echoed that message. He said: "We need information from the public on those whom they either know or suspect to be involved in drug dealing. A phone call could save a life." He added that the SDEA would target all drug dealers, not just the small percentage of leading criminals. It will also look at how better to seize the assets of drug dealers, an issue which is currently being considered by Ministers. The appointment of deputy director Detective Chief Superintendent Phil MacDonald and national drugs co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Matt Hamilton was also announced yesterday. A total of 100 new police officers will be recruited, freeing more experienced officers to work for the SDEA through their own force drug squads. They will be involved in crime analysis and intelligence gathering. A further 100 staff are expected to be taken on over the next three years. The SDEA will co-ordinate the work of 120 staff from other groups such as Customs and Excise, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the Scottish Crime Squad. There are also plans to set up a central Scottish intelligence database to share information on drug crime from all of Scotland's eight forces. Strathclyde Chief Constable John Orr, speaking in his capacity as chairman of the standing committee of chief constables, said police were "hurting" dealers, with pounds 37m of drugs taken off the streets in Strathclyde last year and several convictions secured against barons. However, he pointed to the rising number of drug deaths and said more must be done by all parties. He said: "We talk to the relatives who are left behind to pick up the pieces and we see the end product of what these wicked and insidious people are doing." - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson