This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Arrests and seizures after campaign
02/11/2006
Police have made more than 100 drug-related arrests and seized almost £100,000 of drugs and cash as a result of the recent Drug Dealers Don't Care (DDDC) campaign.
The campaign, funded from money seized from criminals, ran for six weeks in September and October and resulted in an increase of just over 80 per cent in drug-related calls to Crimestoppers compared to the same period last year.
This latest phase of the campaign was targeted at Scotland's six local authorities hardest hit by serious violent crime - often a sign of the turf wars associated with the drugs trade. Those areas include Inverclyde, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said:
"Crime in Scotland is falling and violent crime is now at its lowest level since devolution. However, there are still too many individuals involved in drug dealing and drug trafficking. We are determined to clamp down on those peddling this evil trade who not only bring misery to our hardest hit communities, but think they can lord it up at their expense. They should think again.
"The success of the latest phase of the 'Drug Dealers Don't Care' campaign, funded from criminals' own pockets, shows that the public are fed up with these parasites. By providing information anonymously to Crimestoppers Scotland they have shown courage and enthusiasm to help the police build up a jigsaw of intelligence to get these individuals off Scotland's streets.
"Although the local DDDC campaigns have formally ended, the crackdown against drug dealers goes on. I would urge anyone who has information on drug dealing in their area to call Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111. The lines are open 24/7 and you could have the one piece of information that provides the final bit of evidence that helps get a drug dealer off the streets.
"Meanwhile, we will continue to use the powers available to us in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to disrupt the activities of drug dealers and other involved in serious organised crime, and strip them of their ill-gotten gains. This money will be reinvested in communities across Scotland."
Assistant Chief Constable John L.S. Malcolm, Secretary for the Crime Business Area for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), said:
"At the outset we promised that this campaign would give power back to the communities and that has been the case.
"The police cannot tackle the scourge of drugs alone. It is only by working in partnership with other agencies, and perhaps more importantly the public, that we can make a real difference.
"There are many examples of drug dealers being brought to justice because people have had the courage to pick up the phone and tell us what they know about local drug dealers in their area. That vital community intelligence helps the police tackle those people who think nothing of supplying drugs to our children and the most vulnerable people in our society.
"However this sort of action should not be restricted to campaigns. We would encourage people to report drug dealers to us at any time and use this campaign as the impetus to keep the police informed about drug dealers in their communities."
Inspector Graeme Ross, National Co-ordinator for Crimestoppers Scotland, added:
"Yet again the public have shown their support in the fight to rid our communities of drug dealers by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and passing on whatever information they have. This year's campaign has seen a significant increase in the number of calls in relation to drug dealing as well as other offences.
"I would encourage the public to keep on calling Crimestoppers if they know anything at all about drug dealers or any type of crime in their neighbourhood. All calls are anonymous and every call is important, we want to know what you know, not who you are."
This year's DDDC campaign had a more localised approach with two wards in six local authority areas being targeted by a publicity campaign in the local media and other related PR activity. A six week umbrella campaign ran from September 4 to October 15. It was supported by intensive localised PR activity for two weeks in each of the areas concerned.
2. The main statistics for the campaign are as follows:
- The Drug Dealers Don't Care roadshow visited 12 locations in central Scotland during a three week period to raise awareness of the campaign. Around 7250 people visited the roadshow during its various visits
- The number of actionable drug calls across Scotland rose by 80.5 per cent compared to the same period last year (823 calls compared to 1486 calls)
- There have been 102 drug-related arrests
- £28,855 in cash has been seized
- Drugs worth £64,150 have been seized
- All calls including drugs calls for this period rose by 38 per cent in comparison with the same period as last year (2,176 calls compared to 1,574 calls)
As well as adverts and features in the local press and radio, the campaign also featured large outdoor posters and posters in bus shelters and telephone boxes. There was also an envelope drop to people living in the target areas with details of how to contact Crimestoppers.
The Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson announced in March this year that around £2 million of funds seized from criminals under the proceeds of crime would be invested in the six areas above. The money will support initiatives aimed at reducing crime, improving people's quality of life and visibly repairing the harm caused to communities through the impact of serious violent crime.
As part of the £2 million nnounced by the Justice Minister, the latest phase of the DDDC was funded at a cost of £370,000 (£250,000 for advertising and £120,000 for additional police work).
Last week the Lord Advocate announced that almost £1.8 million has been recovered from criminals in the last six months under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.