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UK: Catching Dealers is Main Priority, Says New Chief
Chris Henwood Llanelli Star
Thursday 25 Oct 2007 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
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