POLICE STEP UP FIGHT AGAINST DRUG DEALERS

A war on drugs blighting communities is being waged this week on every level.

A police purge on drug dealers and the work of agencies helping
addicts will be highlighted in the Tackling Drugs campaign.

Northumbria Police is backing the Home Office in a national drugs
awareness drive.

Enforcers are not only taking on the drug barons and breaking up
distribution networks, but also helping users live a drug-free life.

Northumbria Police's Det Insp Mandy Shea, of the force intelligence
department's drug section, said: "We are committed to disrupting the
supply of drugs, closing crack houses and cannabis farms, and
reducing drug-related crime.

"We should not lose sight of the fact drug dealers profit from the
misery of others.

"Drugs destroy the lives of people who use them but those involved in
dealing don't care. We are taking the fight to the dealers, placing
them before the courts and depriving them of their liberty, as well
their assets obtained through the misery of others."

Work by partner agencies to steer abusers away from drugs and
drugs-related crimes has been an uphill struggle, but successes have achieved.

Det Insp Shea added: "We support the work of partner agencies such as
local drug action teams and the crime and disorder reduction
partnerships to deliver drug advice and information to communities,
families and youngsters."

In the past two years, officers have seized 57kg of heroin, 21kg of
cocaine, 30,000 ecstasy tablets, 48kg of amphetamines, 1,220kg of
cannabis resin and 500kg of cannabis plants in a series of major operations.

Officers have also seized 3,000 rounds of ammunition and eight firearms.

Financial investigators have been targeting drug dealers and removing
their assets.

Between August 2006 and March this year, 113 confiscation orders were
made by local courts with a value of almost UKP1.5m.

To build on this success, neighbourhood policing teams are working
directly with communities.

Tackling the drugs menace had led to major successes with information
from local families helping police to identify drug dealers and
disrupt markets.

The Chronicle has campaigned for drugs awareness and crime prevention
in our War on Drugs initiative.

It was launched three years ago after the tragic death of young
addict John Courtney.

On April 2, 2005, former Newcastle United trainee footballer John
Courtney was found dead in his uncle's flat, lying on a grubby carpet
next to a syringe after his final fix.

With the backing of his family, we printed the harrowing image of his
corpse in a bid to urge others not to journey down the same road.

Since then, the Chronicle has worked to raise awareness of drugs
abuse, improve access to services and catch dealers.

On the third anniversary of John's death, his mother, Angie, backed
calls for addicts to be stripped of their benefits if they fail to
keep up with their treatment plans.

Angie, 48, of Losh Terrace, Walker, Newcastle, said: "Losing John
hurts as much as ever and it is all because of heroin.

"People think I am crazy for saying this, but I was over the moon
when I heard they were planning to stop people's benefits if they refuse help.

"If they are told they will lose their money, it will be the
incentive to stick at it. As long as they think they can keep doing
what they want and they'll get their money anyway, they won't bother."

John had been on the road to football fame.

As a youngster playing for Walker Central, Newcastle Boys and his
school, he excelled and was dubbed another Shearer.

But at the age of 18 he dabbled with heroin and his life descended
into a cycle of crime and addiction which saw him spend time in jail.

Three weeks after being released from a spell behind bars, he was
killed by a heroin overdose.

Since our War on Drugs campaign was launched, we have set up a
dedicated website to give visitors information on drugs and details
about how to get help.