Dealers in police sights (From Free Press Series)

Dealers in police sights

CRACK houses are being targeted in a police operation that could see dealers of class A drugs evicted from their homes.

As part of the operation, Gwent police and support groups for addicts met at a seminar in Cwmbran last Thursday, which highlighted the powers available to combat drug-related crime.

Operation Crack Down is a three-month initiative, to engage with communities and run a high-profile enforcement campaign against drug dealers.

And under anti-social behaviour laws, convicted dealers could be turfed out of their houses for up to three months and their homes boarded up..

Enforcement alone has not worked, say police, so they have joined forces with drug agencies like Kaleidoscope and Drugs and Family Support (DAFS) to bring dealers to justice and seize illegal drugs, assets and firearms associated with the drugs' trade.

Detective Constable Lyn Webber co-ordinated the seminar in Cwmbran. He spoke of the drug-related anti-social behaviour, which often results in misery for those living near crack houses

DC Webber said: "It is vitally important that everyone involved in combating the use, effects and trading of class A drugs, is aware of what powers they have at their disposal."