Plymouth police target street drug dealers who prey on city's revellers
STREET drug dealers who target revellers in the pub and club areas of Plymouth are being targeted by police.
Operation Zodiac has been launched by police following concerns over the number of drug-related incidents around the city's pubs and clubs, including dealers being seen plying their trade and drugged-up revellers attacking police.
-
Acting Sgt Paula Tucker, who is heading Operation Zodiac, said the scheme was being run alongside Operation Expound, which focuses on potential violent trouble-spots in the city's clubland on weekends.
She said officers, both in uniform and plain-clothes, were targeting specific areas of the city's evening and night time economy (ENTE) landscape.
From Monday to Friday,
Come and enjoy our special menu at £12 per person for 3 course-meal.
Terms:
Not in conjunction with any other offers.
From Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner.
Subject to availability.
Contact: 01752 424381
Valid until: Wednesday, July 31 2013
A recent operation focused on Sherwell Arcade and the northern part of the city centre, areas which have become synonymous with partying students.
She said: "We dealt with 14 offenders during two two-hour operations over just two days.
"It included the arrest of a 17-year-old on suspicion of possession of Ecstasy with intent to supply.
"The majority of the cases we have dealt with were cannabis use.
"We're trying to build up a picture of what is being used in the different areas of the night time economy.
"Some of it is blatant, and we will crackdown on people who use controlled substances in public.
"We're also aware of certain people hanging around outside clubs and pubs in the evening and night time economy areas, who are suspected of dealing drugs such as cannabis, Ecstasy, ketamine and bubble [mephedrone] to revellers.
"The aim of the operation is to safeguard and protect the public.
"We have had cases in other parts of the country as well as in the city where people taking controlled drugs while out at night come to serious harm and even sometimes die.
"In the past we used to have everyone smoking inside the pubs, but the smoking ban has put everyone onto the streets and we believe street dealers are using the busy pavements as a cover to do their trade.
"People's behaviour can change dramatically when they have taken controlled substances, especially if they then mix it with alcohol.
"It can make some people much more vulnerable to being victims of crime. In other cases it can make them more susceptible to commit crime.
"Earlier this month we had an incident where a man who was suspected of taking LSD violently attacked two female officers.
"Operation Zodiac is not about ruining people's fun – it's about safeguarding the public from harm and we will be carrying out further operations in the coming months."
If you have information about drug matters contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
8 Comments
by JETHROQUEUE
Friday, February 22 2013, 7:44PM
“I see elsewhere in the Herald the fight against prostitution seems to centre on treating the 'sex industry workers' as victims and the 'punters' as the offenders and targetting them accordingly. After all if there were no 'punters' the trade would wane and die out. Perhaps the same radical approach could be applied to drug dealers, sorry, ' faux pharmaceutical supplies industry workers ' ( can anyone think of a better one ?) and perhaps treat them as victims and their punters as the villains, which of course they are !! Maybe this whole approach could be extended to other 'crime industry workers' . . . . . . should I go on . . . . . . . sadly as as has been mentioned until some stiff deterrent sentences are passed out I can't see things changing much. Best of luck to the hard pressed Police, but with all the cuts & red tape they would seem to have their work cut out.”
by Shoto45
Thursday, February 21 2013, 3:44PM
“Ahh " by jtme1 " Just in case I was misunderstood on my first post at 09.13hrs, Tips can be funds recvd on top of your fares or just information which you have claimed to have.
" by snowy1234 " post at 1229hrs seems to agree with me.”
by marc1964
Thursday, February 21 2013, 2:52PM
“They are quoted at saying they will target theses people , Hang on isint it there job to get these people they should be a targeting them 24/7 and not just on buy one get one free deals . Come on do your job and sweep these scum up and all other people who break the law , Or are we waiting for drink driving week etc”
by snowy1234
Thursday, February 21 2013, 12:29PM
“Jtme1, so you claim you could take police to at least 20 being a taxi driver? Instead of trying to inflate your own ego on an internet forum why don't you OFFER that information to a police officer or ring crime stoppers? Instead of moaning about the issue why don't you take steps to help resolve it”
by Monkeyman
Thursday, February 21 2013, 10:35AM
“Isn't this what the police should be doing on a daily basis as part of their routine? or do sectors of the criminal world only get targeted periodically in 'operations' announced in advance in the local rag?”
by whinger7643
Thursday, February 21 2013, 9:31AM
“Operation Zodiac, will turn into and expensive Operation Zero, because those caught will get little or Zero punishment. Heavy punishment will send out warnings, not the powder puff rubbish currently handed out.”
by Shoto45
Thursday, February 21 2013, 9:13AM
“Well " by jtme1 " Why don`t you use your tips to contact them or do you need the drug dealers custom in your taxi.”
by jtme1
Thursday, February 21 2013, 8:24AM
“The Police will never catch them, I could take them to at least 20 being A taxi driver, but the Police are not switched on and just don't ask us.”