Drug Related Crime

Safer north devon Drug related crimes are those, which are directly linked to the buying, selling, production and cultivation of illegal drugs.

Drug misuse has grown over recent years evidenced by the number of people entering prison with significant drug problems, acquisitive crime, drug-related ill health and the number of young people reporting substance misuse problems.

North Devon is not generally a high crime area but does have a number of seaside towns, which have a higher rate of drugs misuse amongst the community than other areas in devon.

National Drug Strategy

The drug strategy is a cross-government programme of policies and interventions that concentrate on the most dangerous drugs, the most damaged communities and problematic drug users. The new ten year strategy incorporates the following actions:

- Extending powers to seize drug dealers’ assets to demonstrate that crime does not pay

- Placing a greater responsibility on drug-users on benefits to get treatment and back into work

- Embedding action to tackle drugs through the neighbourhood policing approach, gathering intelligence from communities

- Strengthening and extending international agreements to intercept drugs supplied to the UK

- Focusing on families where parents use drugs and prioritising treatment for parents who have children

- Piloting new approaches that allow more flexible and effective use of resources including personalised treatment

- Increasing the use of community sentences with a drug rehabilitation requirement; and,

- Developing support for drug treatment so that those who quit drugs are offered training and support in getting work and re-establishing their lives.

For further information about the national drug strategy please look at http://www.drugs.gov.uk/

Devon Drug And Alcohol Team

The Devon Drug And Alcohol Team (DAAT) is based in Exeter and is a partnership combining representatives from local authorities, police (education, social services, and housing) health, probation the prison service and the voluntary sector. Our local crime and disorder partnership work closely with the DAAT endeavouring to ensure that cross agency projects are co-ordinated successfully.

Tackling drugs in the community remains a priority for Safer North Devon and we continue to build on recent success in this area. Anyone with any information about drug dealing can call crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact Devon and Cornwall Constabulary on the non emergency number 08452 777 444

For further information on drug related crime or any other drug related issues please contact Sgt Andy McClenaghan on 01271 341200

Changing Lives Making Communities Safer