25/10/2007 00:00:00
UK: Trade fuels drugs capital tag
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Police chief calls for halt to sales of scales and pipes that boost
reputation
TRADERS have been urged to stop selling items such as scales and pipes
that help give Camden Town its reputation as a drugs capital.
The plea has come from police Borough Commander Superintendent Mark
Heath. But he added that, while he was concerned about the sale of items
such as bongs (pipes used to smoke cannabis), nobody wanted to change
the area’s uniqueness.
New Journal reporters have witnessed newsagents selling 50p wraps of
steel wool, believed to be used to take crack cocaine.
Supt Heath was speaking as Camden Town’s 18 new police community support
officers (PCSOs) and 10 police constables posed for the cameras in
Inverness Street on Friday. He said: “People have come up to us and said
what a difference these people are making. The test of today will be the
partnership in the future.”
Inspector Paul Morris believed that building confidence between police
and traders would lead to a reduction in crime. He added: “We can only
deal with the incidents we know about. It’s about building up a picture
of who’s drug dealing where.”
Some businesses have said they fear reprisals from dealers if they come
forward with information.
Insp Morris said some newsagents were selling alcohol 24 hours a day,
encouraging drinkers to hang around shops.
He added: “If we can stop them doing that and get businesses to
collaborate it can work. Everyone has a small part to play in what can
be a great success.”
Insp Morris said police officers would be on the streets between 10pm
and 6am. He added: “We wish we could have police on the street every
hour of the day but we have to measure our response to everybody in the
borough.”
Matthew McMillan, operations manager for Camden Town Unlimited, said:
“Businesses have been crying out for a large, high-visibility force.”
His group of traders has agreed to chip in extra money on top of
business rates to pay for extra support.
PCSOs have the power to legally detain a suspect, with reasonable force
if necessary, for 30 minutes, pending the arrival of a police constable.
They also have some stop-and-search powers.
http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/2007/102507/news102507_15.html
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12948
Author:
Camden New Journal via UKCIA
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