Pubdate: Tue, 06 Apr 2004
Source: Belfast Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/42
Author: Brendan McDaid
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DRINK LINK TO CITY'S CRIME WORSE THAN DRUGS PROBLEM: POLICE CHIEF

Crime in Londonderry will never significantly decrease until the city deals 
with a deepening alcohol crisis, Foyle's police chief has warned.

In a bleak and frank assessment, Foyle DCU District Commander Richard 
Russell said the drug problems were "nowhere near" as prevalent as those 
associated with alcohol.

Speaking to the Telegraph after last night's launch of the Foyle District 
Policing Plan for the coming year, Mr Russell said over half of all city 
crimes were now alcohol-related.

"At least 50% of all crime is drink-related, be that getting drunk and 
getting into the car and driving, going home and beating up partners or 
street violence. Alcohol is usually in there somewhere."

Superintendent Russell said that the problems stemmed from high levels of 
people who became involved in binge drinking.

"This city has a tremendous nightlife and there is nothing wrong with that.

"But there is a tendency to over-indulge. "Drinking to excess is the 
problem and it is absolutely crucial we can design methodolgies to prevent 
people drinking too much, ending up fighting or falling down and cracking 
their head on the pavement.

"We need to make sure they can get home safely."

He added that addressing drunken violence, such as that displayed during 
recent St Patrick's Day celebrations, was now a priority.

"Now we have Radio One's Big Weekend coming up and such events are a 
tremendous advertisment for this city, attracting all sorts of publicity.

"The problem is trying to discourage some of the people who go to these 
events from misbehaving."

Mr Russell said it would be "crazy" to say that drugs were not a problem in 
Derry.

But he added: "It has probably reached a stage where it has levelled but I 
am hesitant to say it has peaked.

"If there is a move among drug dealers then it is from cannabis to cocaine, 
that is a real danger. There is very little heroin or amphetamine in the city.

"Marijuana and ecstacty seem to the most widespread drugs used here and a 
small amount of cocaine. It is very rare to see anything other than that."

One of seven major objectives in the police plan will be disrupting illegal 
drug trafficking into the city.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager