Pubdate: Thu, 05 Dec 2002
Source: Oldham Evening Chronicle (UK)
Copyright: Oldham Evening Chronicle 2002
Contact:  http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1151
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/United+Kingdom

ZERO TOLERANCE ON DRUGS

CRACK cocaine dealers will be driven out of Manchester through a new
zero tolerance campaign.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has announced plans to extend tough
tactics piloted successfully in Brixton to the streets of Manchester
and Bristol.

Markets will be disrupted by raiding more crack houses used to deal
the deadly drug and there will be an increased number of searches.

Police will also arrest prostitutes using crack and refer them for
treatment, as well as making a fresh drive to remove abandoned vehicles.

The stricter law enforcement will be accompanied by more treatment for
crack addiction and campaigns to turn people away from using the drug.

The initiative was launched in the borough of Lambeth - including
Brixton - in June. More than 100 crack houses have since been raided
and reported robberies have fallen by 33 per cent.

However, the tough new approach is known to have increased tensions
between the police and the black community in Brixton.

Mr Blunkett said: "In Lambeth, through concerted efforts by the
police and other agencies, we have driven the open crack market down.

"We have shut down crack houses and put in support to drive people
into help, rather than them going to other parts of of the capital to
get their drugs.

"We are now trying to transfer this policy to other areas with high
drug use, such as Bristol and Manchester."

Manchester will be at the forefront of a new National Crack Action
Plan, to be published later this month and to start on the ground in
January.

The Government wants specialist crack treatment services in place by
April and schemes to turn young people away from the temptations of
crack use ready by June.

The timetable aims for reductions in crack supply and crime, and an
increase in the number of people in treatment, by next June.

It follows recognition that crack use is increasing steadily and that
current anti-drug tactics have been more successful in tackling heroin
use.

Meanwhile, crack dealing linked to gun use is seen by many
young people as an attractive career option.

Crack is produced in the UK, largely from bulk shipments through
Channel ports, although smaller quantities are also brought in through
airports. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake