URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n083/a14.html
Newshawk: puff_tuff
Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2002 BBC
Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558

CRIME RISE DUE TO RISING DRUGS TRADE

Police in Bristol admit an upsurge in drug dealing has led to a crimewave in several areas of the city.

Up to 50 dealers, including a number of children, are working openly every day on some of the city's streets.

Senior officers believe Jamaican criminals entering the UK illegally are behind much of the trade.

Now the police are appealing to the community to help them tackle the growing crime wave.

Avon and Somerset Police say addicts are committing burglaries, car thefts and muggings and costing the city UKP1.4m a week.

Chief Superintendent Mike Rowe said a "significant" number of Jamaican criminals are dealing on the streets.

"This is not about labelling the Jamaican community, in fact, many have given us lots of help.

"It is about Jamaican criminals and at the moment it is a problem with the flights coming into London carrying cocaine and coming to the streets of Bristol."

Although the problem is said to bad in the St Paul's area, other drug hotspots are Knowle West, Easton and Hartcliffe.

Speaking to BBC Bristol, one parent, who identified herself only as Pat, said locals were scared of the violence generated by the dealers and the pushers.

She also said there was anger in the local community that drug deals were taking place so openly and in front of young children.

"I think it's disgusting that the dealers are blatantly dealing in front of the children.

"It's all changed in a short period of time. The people on the streets aren't the same individuals as they were six, seven, months ago."

Operation Atrium

In one street of St Paul's dubbed Front Line Lane by residents, Pat said she had counted 20 people dealing in drugs.

"The police are there but only in a small presence and they can't fight that amount and get them off the street without there being serious consequence."

From June to November 2001 police arrested more than 200 people after working with community leaders to fight drug imports from Jamaican gangs.

Thousands of pounds of crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis were seized as part of Operation Atrium.

The arrests in Bristol and London led to a number of guns and other weapons being seized.