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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Drug scheme area police team cut
Alison Freeman BBC News
Wednesday 03 May 2006 The police team patrolling one of London's notorious crime hotspots has been cut by half. Brixton's Town Centre Team has dropped from 20 constables and three sergeants, to 10 PCs and two sergeants. Police said the move was part of a restructuring to promote more intelligence-led crime fighting. But residents have voiced concerns saying a visible presence on the beat is needed to deal with problems like drug dealing and muggings. A 'No Deal' scheme, which targets cannabis dealers in the high street area, has been running since November in an attempt to get rid of aggressive dealers who also sell crack and heroin. 'Reassuring police presence' The scheme was seen as a U-turn in policy in the area which piloted the softly-softly approach to the drug which preceded its declassification from Class B to Class C. The Metropolitan Police said No Deal would not be affected by the cuts. One resident, who did not want to be named, said he had noticed less police on the streets since the cuts two weeks ago and it was having a "direct affect on the community." Jason Dines, who lives near the high street, said he was concerned. "They've just had this massive police crack down on street dealing - which has had a good result - but you have to keep chasing this problem around. "The kind of crime that affects people here is street crime and a police presence is reassuring - I just hope this isn't a cost-cutting exercise. 'Area a priority' "I appreciate that things have to go on behind the scenes but we will have to wait and see if it works here." A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the Town Centre Inspector would now be able to call on the Lambeth Borough Task Force for intelligence-led crime fighting. He also said the restructuring had included the creation of a Lambeth integrated borough operations (IBO) which would "enhance the service we provide across Lambeth". "Whilst we appreciate that the reduction in the number of officers in Brixton Town Centre team is of concern to some people we would reassure them that combating crime in this area remains a priority and we believe the introduction of the IBO together with a more intelligence led approach to policing the town centre will help make Lambeth, including Brixton, safer," he said.
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