SOUTH Lakeland looks set to get £200,000 of Government money to tackle drugs problems over the next three years, reports Rachel Kitchen.
The Government's Communities Against Drugs initiative is designed to disrupt drug markets by tackling supply and demand; tackle crime linked to drugs; and clamp-down on drug and alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.
This year South Lakeland will get £69,100 to spend - with similar sums to follow in the next two years.
South Lakeland's Community Safety Partnership - which includes partners such as Cumbria police, the youth service, fire brigade, Hartleys brewery and South Cumbria Drug Reference Group - has drawn up an action plan for how it hopes to spend this year's money.
The key features are:
l 300 hours of high-visibility policing to target drug supply and anti-social behaviour in locations known for drug-dealing.
l Employment of a private security warden to randomly patrol parks and known trouble-spots for up to 37 hours a week.
Supt Colin Mather told the community safety partnership that a precedent had been set for private security patrols, for example on industrial estates, and on housing estates in other parts of the country.
He said police did not have enough overtime hours to provide 37 extra hours of random patrols each week.
l Purchase of computer kit that can be programmed to recognise the car registration plates of known drug-dealers.
Linked with CCTV, the kit can alert police when drug couriers are entering South Lakeland.
l Extending Operation Reclaim, the brainchild of detectives in Barrow.
This project sees police officers visiting drug addicts and offering them treatment.
At the moment, it is focused on heroin users on Walney.
The operation has good success rates.
l Employing a support worker to help the families of drug-users, and a youth worker.
l Raising awareness of the dangers of drug-related rape at pubs, schools and clubs.
l Building up a detailed picture of drug use in South Lakeland.
The action plan must now be approved by Government Regional Office.
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