Published: Wednesday, 14th May, 2008 12:00
'DEALERS: WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU'
By Amanda Keenan
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POLICE have issued a chilling warning to drug dealers saying “We know where you are and we are coming after you.”
The no-nonsense message comes after cops raided eight homes across the town resulting in 36 charges, 12 arrests and thousands-of-pounds worth of drugs recovered.
Now top police chief Superintendent Stewart Daniels is warning dealers and users “we only need to be lucky once.”
The move comes after crime figures for 2007/08 revealed that drug related crimes in the town had shot up by a staggering 82 per cent.
And in a bid to drive out the dealers police are carrying out dawn raids on the evil pushers.
Speaking exclusively to the Barrhead News Mr Daniels said:
“Since the beginning of April local police, supported by officers from elsewhere on the Southside of the city have been beating down the doors of local drug dealers in Barrhead.
“We are acting on information from the public and we are in possession of warrants from the courts and already a number of houses have been targeted across the town.
Leaving no stone unturned the cops have carried out dawn raidsin the past three weeks on homes throughout the town including:
-April 10 – Craighead Way – 28 year old woman reported
-April 15 – McCulloch Way – 32 year old man reported
-April 21 – Stewart Street - 44 year old man and 42 year old woman reported
-April 23 – Balgray Crescent – 55 year old woman and 29 year old man reported
- May 2 – Madras Place, Neilston – 24 year old man reported
- May 7– Divernia Way – two men aged 52 and 29 reported
- May 8– Crossmill Avenue – 34 year old woman and 22 year old man reported
- May 9– Sunnyside Place – 41 year old woman reported.
The 12 individuals face a total of 36 charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and will appear at court on a later date.
The raids are being welcomed by East Renfrewshire’s community and safety convener Councillor Mary Montague who is praising police for their ‘impressive results’.
Councillor Montague said: “This is very good news for the people of Barrhead.
“Drugs have no place in our community and I congratulate Superintendent Daniels and his officers who have put a great deal of hard work and preparation into gaining these impressive results.
“It’s also vitally important for local people to follow the lead of those who have already provided valuable information to the police. By doing that, everyone can join in with the police and council drive to beat the dealers who bring misery wherever they operate.”
And in a further blow to dealers police will be contacting housing authorities to ensure they are evicted from their homes.
Superintendent Daniels added: “We will also be keeping tabs on how cases progress through the Courts and, if convictions are secured, we will be in touch with the Housing authorities to let them consider evicting their tenants.
“The public are sick fed up of these criminal activities and the information is coming in steadily. These misery-makers need to remember that we only need to be lucky once.
“I thank the decent people of Barrhead for the information that they have provided and I would ask them to keep it coming in to us. As always it can be in confidence through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111”
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