25/10/2007 00:00:00
UK: Catching Dealers is Main Priority, Says New Chief
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Llanelli's newly installed chief inspector has hit back over a judge's
claim the town was "bedevilled by drugs".Chief Inspector Steve Griffiths
said catching dealers was his number one priority after Judge Gerald
Price labelled the town a drugs hot- spot.
The judge's comment came in a case this month in which 27-year-old Irene
Pugh, of Station Road, was found guilty of possessing heroin with intent
to supply.
In summing up the case, Judge Price said: "Llanelli is bedevilled by drugs."
However, Mr Griffiths, who for the last seven years served as a
detective inspector in the town before stepping up, hit back.
"As the new chief inspector in Llanelli, it is my intention to make
catching drug dealers a priority for Llanelli police," he said.
"It is clear that reducing the availability of drugs reduces the number
of new people addicted to drugs.
"The fewer drug addicts we have, the fewer crimes are committed to fund
the drug habit."
The chief inspector also pointed to recent Swansea Crown Court cases as
examples of his determination to beat the drugs menace.
On September 28, Ropewalk Road 33-year-old Kristie Carrington got 30
months inside after pleading guilty to possessing heroin with intent to
supply.
Jason King Gibson, aged 33, of Brynmelyn Avenue, also pleaded guilty to
possessing heroin with intent to supply on October 3.
He was sentenced to five years behind bars.
Some 26 people have been charged with dealing drugs since April - 11
more than this time last year.
"It is not only about the action we are taking against heroin dealers -
all drug dealers will be targeted including cannabis," said Mr Griffiths.
He added: "The positive action we're taking against people dealing and
using drugs in Llanelli is key to reducing crime and disorder - as is
the treatment of addicts and drug intervention programmes with our
partners in Carmarthenshire.
"These factors are why crime in Llanelli this year is down 21 per cent -
that is, over 400 fewer victims of crime in Llanelli alone, improving
the quality of life for all of us."
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12950
Author:
Llanelli Star via UKCIA
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