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A-Z of Crime Prevention: DRUGS |
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Dear Resident
Welcome to your 4th instalment of the A-Z Crime Prevention Advice. Today, I would like to draw your attention to the overarching topic of drugs. Be it drug possession, drug dealing, drug importation, anti-social smoking of cannabis, county lines, trigger offences (where individuals resort to committing offences to fund a drug addiction), or cuckooing, tackling drug-related incidents is unfortunately at the forefront of modern-day policing.
Drug dealing, in particular, can have a harmful impact on communities as it can appear that illicit substances are widely available, and people often associated those who consume or distribute drugs as being violent. Green spaces and playgrounds should feel like a safe space for families with children to visit in their free time, however some spaces appear to have been overrun by the drug trade leading to feelings of unsafety.
Our proactive and preventative approaches to tackling drug-related crime extend to high-visibility patrols, working with partner agencies, early interventions, giving talks to young and vulnerable people, covert patrols, warrants authorised under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and gathering intelligence from the public. It is important that we receive information from the public if you have concerns about drug use or supply in your area. You can provide this information by clicking the ‘Reply’ button at the bottom of this Herts Connected message. Any ‘Replies’ received will be directed to our Neighbourhood Policing Team to review.
Alternatively, if you suspect someone of being involved in drug-related crime, including heroin, cocaine, cannabis or synthetic drugs, report to local police online or by calling 101, or 999 if there is an immediate risk of harm or danger. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers. To identify offenders, we need as much information as possible about them including a description, any vehicles they are using, the location of the incident, the time/date of the incident, and a description of any suspicious or illicit items they are carrying.
If you have concerns about your own substance misuse, or concerns about someone else’s, I have included a link to Hertfordshire County Council’s help and support page for those struggling with substance misuse: Drugs | Hertfordshire County Council . This website includes help for individuals, young people, and families or carers.
So far, 1,120 residents have completed our Priority Survey which asks users what issues they are most concerned about. Currently, 127 people have listed that ‘Drugs and Related Issues’ are a cause for concern, and we are keen to know exactly how this is impacting you in your neighbourhood. If you have not yet taken our Priority Survey, please click on the infographic below to complete:
Thank you for reading, have a lovely week. Don’t forget, you can tell us how useful this message was by clicking ‘Rate’ at the bottom of the page!
Kind regards, Fiona | ||
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