Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jan 2006
Source: Edinburgh Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2006 The Scotsman Publications Ltd
Contact:  http://www.edinburghnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1626
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/undercover+police

UNDERCOVER POLICE TARGET MIDDLE-CLASS COCAINE USERS

UNDERCOVER detectives are posing as posh drugs suppliers to catch
middle-class cocaine users, Britain's top police officer said today.

Sir Ian Blair said Scotland Yard was using smartly-dressed officers in
"sting operations" to catch more affluent drug takers.

The tactic is seemingly a bid to honour a pledge Sir Ian made on
assuming control of Britain's biggest force a year ago, when he
insisted he wanted to stop cocaine replacing wine at dinner parties.

Sir Ian said: "What we are trying to do is make people understand that
when they buy from a supplier, they find they are buying from a
Metropolitan Police officer. And that is quite an upsetting
experience, I understand."

Sir Ian added that the strategy, under which detectives take the place
of dealers who are arrested, had already proved to be a success.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin