NEW POLICE BLITZ ON DRUG COURIERS

DRUG couriers could be driven off Cumbria's roads in new police moves
to deny criminals the use of their cars.

Officers have successfully managed to get a suspect's driving licence
revoked in a new way of hitting drug carriers.

Detectives revealed the new tool in their armoury as they released the
results of a year-long blitz on drug offenders in the west of the county.

Police arrested more than 100 people and raided the equivalent of two
houses a week in a massive crackdown aimed at improving everyday life
in streets and estates.

Officers were successful in applying to have a driving licence revoked
by using existing legislation used to take away licences of people
incapable of driving through disability.

Detective Inspector Cliff Walker said: "A local drug abuser and
suspected drugs courier was highlighted as having a 'disability',
defined in this case as the persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

"Both local intelligence and previous convictions were used to support
the claim and, in due course, the DVLA agreed and the licence was revoked.

"This is clearly a new and powerful way of denying criminals the use
of the roads, particularly in respect of drugs couriers being used by
higher echelon criminals to conduct their business."