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Police pledge to continue drugs blitz

Lothian and Borders Police, which has its headquarters in Edinburgh, has hailed "Operation Foil" a huge success.

But the force's Chief Constable, Sir Roy Cameron, said much more needed to be done to rid the streets of the "business-like" dealers.

"The dealers have become increasingly sophisticated in their approach, and I am not just referring to the so-called Mr Bigs.

"The average dealer will be on the internet using technology for accounting systems, network systems and contacts. We are dealing with this and trying to combat the business approach by the dealer," said Sir Roy.

The fourth phase of the ongoing operation was launched on Tuesday and is aimed at drug dealers, with help for victims of drugs also being made available.

Previous phases of the campaign have resulted in 484 arrests, information and intelligence gathering and a number of seizures.

The latest part of the campaign will see:

• A special free hotline - accessed by calling the operator - for people to report dealers to the police.

• Medical advice and support for victims of drugs available on a free hotline.

• Community police officers issued with anti-drugs packages that they can use to get the anti-drugs message across more effectively in their local areas.

He has also promised that action will be taken on all information received.

Following the first three phases of Operation Foil, there is now a full-time team of officers dedicated to following up on the masses of information which have been collected.

Sir Roy said: "We are in business to put these people out of business.

"We have had excellent results from our series of raids and these will continue. But the drugs problem can never be solved by police alone.

"We have had terrific help from the public and now we are asking them for a further surge of information."

He said the police wanted to hear from people who are aware of drug dealers in their neighbourhood because that is how in-roads to the illegal networks can be made.

The launch of Operation Foil's fourth phase has been welcomed by Edinburgh City Council's Director of Social Work, Les McEwan, as well as Jim Sherval, who is Lothian Health's Drug Policy and Research Co-ordinator.

Mr Sherval said: "We remain concerned. Our information tells us that most people are smoking heroin but some have returned to injecting which has obvious consequences for increasing the cases of HIV and Hepatitis B and C."

Relevant Stories

Arrests after secret drugs operation (19 Jul 99 | UK)
Police blitz on heroin (11 Dec 98 | UK)

Internet Links

Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian Health
City of Edinburgh Council

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