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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Attorney General hails drug-busting scheme
Jo Duckles Oxford Mail
Wednesday 02 Aug 2006 A pilot scheme in Oxfordshire which resulted in thousands of pounds worth of drugs being seized in police raids is to be rolled out across the UK. Police told of their success using information from the Thames Valley Crown Prosecution Service antisocial behaviour audit, when Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith visited Oxford yesterday. Lord Goldsmith came to Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre to hear about the audit's results. People in Blackbird Leys, Oxford city centre and Adderbury, near Banbury, were interviewed for the survey, which aimed to raise awareness of the CPS and to help tackle antisocial behaviour. Lord Goldsmith said: "The pilot has demonstrated how it works if we engage the community and understand what is troubling them. It works best if all the agencies work together, not just the prosecutors, but also police, police community support officers and street wardens. continued... "I want my prosecuting authority to learn the best lessons and see how we can apply this across the country." Blackbird Leys neighbourhood policing officer, Pc Martyn Wills, said: "We have had good results tackling drug dealers. "My colleagues raided a house and found 40 wraps of crack cocaine. "Two or three weeks before, we had a joint operation with colleagues from Rose Hill and found cannabis plants worth a street value of about £4,000." He said the drugs raids happened as a direct result of information from the survey. The Oxford Mail reported the drugs raids, one of which took place in Skylark Place, Blackbird Leys, in April and the other in Lenthall Road, Rose Hill. Lord Goldsmith heard how the survey had benefited Blackbird Leys residents. A 53-year-old Balfour Road resident, who asked not to be named, said: "One of our neighbours had serious mental health problems. Under normal circumstances they would have put an Antisocial Behaviour Order on her, but instead the PCSOs got mental health agencies involved. It is good the CPS were involved - they are not just some faceless lawyers." Thames Valley CPS chief crown prosecutor Baljit Ubhey said: "I think the pilot has gone brilliantly. The joint working has been amazing. We have had so much support from the city council, the police and the local communities." http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.859900.0.attorney_general_hails_drugbusting_scheme.php
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