Stinging action against drugs

DEALERS, users and suppliers beware — police are staging a week of hard-hitting action to clamp down on drug crime.

Officers will carry out drug raids, target known offenders and do roadside checks in crime hotspots.

The week of action has been organised by Scorpion — a special group set up by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to bring dealers to justice, increase public confidence in the police and make communities feel safer.

Other elements of the week include working with pub and club landlords to tackle drug use and dealing in licensed premises, and raising awareness of the dangers of drugs to young people through workshops in schools.

Police officers will work with council officers and drugs workers to set up displays and information points in community venues to help users and family and friends supporting them to find support to kick the habit.

A seminar for property owners, letting agents and housing associations on Thursday at the City of Manchester Stadium will warn them to be on their guard against criminals that rent residential property to use as cannabis farms and drug factories.

Chief Supt Steven Hartley, who leads Greater Manchester Police’s Scorpion priority group, said: “Drug crime destroys communities, fuels a whole range of other crimes, breaks up families and wastes lives.

“Communities across our county have raised it as being a major concern and through Scorpion, this week of action and on-going work targeting drug crime at all levels is responding to those concerns.

“A major element of the many successes we have had against drug crime in the last year has been the level of support and information we have received from local people about crime in their neighbourhoods.

“We want to thank them for that and urge them to continue to provide us with information either directly or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

“Through Scorpion we want to rid communities of the poison of drug crime and make them safe for law-abiding citizens to live, work and grow up in.”