THE BATTLE AGAINST CRACK COCAINE
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| London dealers are targeting the South |
Kent Police constantly battle against drugs in the area. Now the problem they face is not just from local dealers, but from those selling crack cocaine in South London.
South London dealers have been travelling to affluent areas of the South East to take advantage of the higher prices crack can fetch there.
Areas such as Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge have been targeted by London dealers.
Crack equals crime
Crack is the smokable form of cocaine and as well as being expensive, is also instantly addictive.
In order to feed their habit, crack users often turn to crime.
"I robbed, stole, taken any opportunity to gain money to take away the pain withdrawing from drugs," explains Paul McCabe, a former addict.
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| Passive drugs dogs are trained to sniff and sit when they detect drugs |
Under control
In a bid to bring the situation under control, Kent Police have set up a drugs liaison unit funded by the Home Office.
Sergeant Howard Chandler, Drugs Co-ordinator for West Kent, is enforcing a variety of operations in order to tackle the problem.
Police officers are not allowed to stop and search members of the public at random. They must firstly have grounds for suspicion.
This is where dogs like Scooby and Dennis come into play.
Scooby and Dennis are passive drugs dogs, trained to sniff and sit when they pick up the scent of drugs rather than barking.
Shopping areas, pubs and clubs all come under the scrutiny of the drugs dogs. The dogs' response to the smell of drugs is considered suitable grounds for suspicion and a search can be leally carried out.
Trains and automobiles
The rail network is one way that illegal drugs are making their way into Kent.
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| Commuters are unaware they are being sniffed for drugs |
"The major thing is to disrupt drugs supply," explains Sergeant Chandler.
"We like to focus on travel routes like road checks and railway stations to identify how they come into the county."
Police are also clamping down on drugs arriving by road.
Sergeant Chandler and his team perform what is known as multi agency road checks. These are spot checks in which customs, the DVLC (Driver and
Vehicle Licensing Centre) and the police are present.
Customs check goods carried in the vehicle, the DVLC check tax disks and whilst the drive steps out of the car, a drugs dog searches the car.
Mock Raid
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| Operation Caddy takes the anti-drugs message into schools |
Sergeant Chandler has also been targeting schools, using passive drugs dogs as an educational tool.
Dubbed Operation Caddy, the session is aimed at the 14+ age group. Finding drugs on schoolchildren is not uncommon.
Drugs dogs check all pupils and thankfully Tunbridge Wells Grammar School is given the all clear.
"If we pretend that drugs isn't an issue in an individual school. Then we are lying to ourselves," says the Head teacher of Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar.
Problems for all
Drugs are not just the problem of the local police, but affect all of society directly or indirectly as Paul explains.
"Everybody that pays taxes in this country pays for the drug problem," says Paul.
"People can be affected in terms of their house being burgled, their car being damaged聟drugs affect everyone."
Ongoing battle
| Information |
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If you have any information on drug misuse, then ring the Drug Liaison Unit on:
01732 370697
All calls are treated in the strictest confidence
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Sergeant Chandler's operations in the South East area have been a great success.
"We have used undercover officers and we've smashed a very serious crack gang that have got very long sentences in prison," explains Sergeant Chandler.
Drug related offences in schools have dropped by 50% since operation Caddy.
The results are encouraging, but the battle to prevent drugs spreading from London is far from over. | 
