Pubdate: Mon, 13 Nov 2006
Source: Yorkshire Post Today (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Johnston Press New Media
Contact:  http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3780
Author: Lucy Harvey

POLICE BLITZ ON DRUG BLACKSPOT

High-Profile Operation As Residents 'Live in Fear of Dealers'

POLICE will flood the streets of Burngreave in  Sheffield for the 
next five weeks in a high-profile  operation to eradicate a growing 
drug problem in the  area.

Officers say drug dealers have been openly plying their  trade in 
streets across the area for the past few  months, causing residents 
to live in fear.

After weeks of intelligence gathering, police have  decided to mount 
a high-profile operation to arrest  dealers who are selling heroin, 
crack cocaine and  cannabis on the streets. The 40-day operation was 
initially launched last week by officers from the area,  but from 
today they will be joined by task force  police, mounted officers and 
colleagues in the drugs  unit.

Officers will use stop and search powers on anyone they  have reason 
to believe is involved in criminal activity  and automatic number 
plate recognition technology to  make checks on vehicles parked and 
driving though the  area. They also plan to execute search warrants 
at a  number of addresses. Last month officers found heroin  valued 
at A#36,000 at a house in the area.

Insp Jon Ekuwbiri, who is leading the operation, said  the situation 
would be monitored daily and if deemed  necessary the operation will 
be extended and a curfew  introduced. Equally, if it is a quick 
success it will  be curtailed.

He said: "Historically Burngreave has problems in terms  of drugs. 
Twenty years ago it was a drug den and five  years ago there were 
shootings and murders aE" it was  out of control.

"Since the area was awarded A#52m of New Deal money six  years ago it 
is not the place it was, but over the past  couple of months the drug 
problem has been getting out  of hand again and it has now built up 
to an  un-acceptable level.

"There have been people openly selling drugs, causing  nuisance and 
making people feel uncomfortable.

"The intelligence we have in respect of what is  happening is 
overwhelming. It has come from our own  officers, members of the 
public and other agencies.

"This operation is in response to that and has three  aims. We want 
there to be no drug dealing on the  streets; we want people to feel 
safe, which they don't  at the moment; and for residents to have more 
confidence in the police, the council and other  agencies."

Insp Ekuwbiri said the scale of the operation might  cause anger or 
alarm among local people but has  appealed for patience.

"The operation will involve short-term pain for  long-term gain and I 
would ask residents to be patient  throughout," he said.

"Some of the residents might get stopped themselves and  that could 
upset them, but we will always have grounds  for stopping people, and 
if necessary we will introduce  a curfew in the area, although that 
is not needed at  the moment.

"The operation could be seen as draconian but it will  get reviewed 
on a daily basis and if it transpires that  in a week we don't need 
it anymore we will stop it."

Anyone with information about crime in the area should  contact the 
Burngreave Safer Neighbourhood Team in  confidence on 0114 296 4444 
or Crimestoppers  anonymously on 0800 555111.
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