Class A crackdown ‘a success’
A crackdown aimed at removing class A drugs from the streets of Britain has been a “great success”, Home Office minister Hazel Blears said today.
Coordinated efforts by 33 police forces have seen the closure of more than 170 crack houses, the confiscation of £13.4 million of drugs, 3,400 arrests and the seizure of more than £3 million in cash over the past three months.
Ms Blears said local communities would reap the benefits of the operation, while it also sent a “clear message” to drug dealers that their behaviour will not be tolerated.
However, while drugs action group DrugScope welcomed the campaign, it warned of the limited effect of such short-term blitzes.
“During Operation Crackdown 170 crack houses were closed down, removing significant opportunities for drug dealing, crimes and anti-social behaviour,” Mr Blears said.
She continued: “This campaign has also hit these criminals hard where it matters, in their pockets. Not just with the large amounts of drugs being seized, but also by stripping them of over £3 million in assets to pay back some of the damage they have caused.”
Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Andy Hayman, who is also the lead on drugs for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said the campaign demonstrated the police services’ commitment to reduce the supply of class A drugs in local communities.
“This campaign has shown how targeted enforcement can successfully dismantle class A drug markets by disrupting organised drug dealing syndicates and bringing those involved before the courts,” he said, adding that where appropriate drug users had been referred for treatment.
However, charity DrugScope urged a note of caution, applauding the “fantastic effort” by police forces in the campaign but urging the government to be realistic about its impact.
“Campaigns such as Operation Crackdown need to be backed up by initiatives to tackle the underlying causes of drug-related disorder and nuisance if they are going to be effective, otherwise they risk simply displacing the problem,” said chief executive Martin Barnes.
He said a “mix of interventions” from education, social, treatment and housing services was needed to minimise the number of crack houses that existed in the first place.
“Drug misuse and the disorder that can accompany it is a complex problem that must be placed in a wider social context – a ‘one club’ approach based on these kinds of enforcement measures will have a limited long-term impact unless it is part of a coherent strategy at local and national level,” he added.
