Drug 'vampires' driven off streets

ADDICTS needing to score this week will have been left struggling to find a street-level dealer in the city centre and many are likely to be withdrawing today and in a state of desperation.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Sep 2007, 08:07 BST
Updated 27th Sep 2007, 11:37 BST

To try to ensure the addicts simply don't look further afield for another supplier, the Government-funded Drugs Intervention Programme has had workers patrolling the streets looking for addicts in need of some help.

Supt Peter Norman said junkies are easy for drugs workers to spot, describing them as being like "vampires" hanging around the streets.

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The DIP, which works with the police, probation service, courts and prisons, has secured a number of assessment appointments for drug users to help them on the road to recovery.

As part of this week's policing operation, DIP has guaranteed that every drug user who wants help will be assessed within 24 hours to get them onto a treatment programme including rehab.

DIP manager Kate Mitchell said: "The sole purpose of DIP is to reduce drug-related crime by getting more people into treatment and this week's operation is a great opportunity for that. We hope that by having skilled drugs workers and ex-user volunteers looking to identify these people we will be able to help them see that this is an opportunity for them to seek treatment.

READ MORE:

War on drug dealers.

Toppling drug kings of Castle Market.

Surveillance went on for weeks - VIDEO.

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