GMP drug seizures beat UK trend

POLICE have made 1,000 drugs seizures a month in the last year across Greater Manchester as the war on narcotics is stepped up.

Statistics released by the Home Office show that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) carried out 11,740 drug seizures in 2010-11, a 9 per cent increase on the previous year.

The force took more drugs off the streets than any other, apart from the Metropolitan Police. Nationally the figure for seizures actually dropped by 5 per cent over the last year.

The crackdown includes numerous raids in Oldham, such as Operation Rescind — three days of action resulting in dozens of drug dealers removed from the streets.

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: “I am extremely proud of the fact that we managed to take even more drugs off the street of Greater Manchester, bucking the national trend.

“Ten years ago we carried out less than 4,000 seizures so this figure really demonstrates how we have taken the fight direct to drug dealers’ door since then.

“There are many complex reasons for our success in recent years, but chief among them is a shift in emphasis in the way we link street-level crime to organised crime groups (OCGs).

“When we arrest a street dealer now they are not dealt with in isolation. Instead we use a range of mapping techniques to make those links to OCGs because they are the people we really need to target. Drugs have a degrading effect on society and the crime associated with them causes misery to the whole community, so we do everything possible to find out who is responsible and put them before the courts.”

Councillor Paul Murphy, chairman of Greater Manchester Police Authority, said: “Drugs have a devastating impact on our communities, which is why the authority has set challenging targets for GMP, making a promise to the public to come down harder than ever on this problem and up the pressure on drug-dealers.

“The figures highlight the hard work and dedication of police officers and staff, resulting in the force being one of the best performing in the country.

“The local community has been vital in helping take criminals and drugs off our streets, and we encourage them to continue working closely with the police.”

The latest success saw around 200 wraps of suspected heroin and crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of up to £2,500, seized from a house in Ashton, last week. Two men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs with intent to supply, handling stolen goods and possession of a CS spray and have been released on bail.

Anyone with concerns about drug dealing can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111 or find details of their neighbourhood policing team at www.gmp.police.uk.