BLITZ FAILS TO BEAT THE CAMDEN DRUG MENACE

IT will take more than a one-month blitz to banish the drug
dealers from Camden Town.

That was the consensus at the end of the joint council and police
crackdown on anti-social behaviour in July.

Camden Markets Traders Association chairman Jimmy Anderson said: "To
be honest we haven't noticed a big difference. As soon as the police
aren't there, they [the drug dealers] are straight back out.

"On Camden Lock bridge I can assure you there is a team of Africans
who are there whether the police are there or not.

"I think we need a more permanent police presence along the main
walkways in Camden Town."

The crackdown involved additional police, some with sniffer dogs,
street wardens, licensing, street trading and trading standards
officers targeting crime and anti-social behaviour.

During the month police made 168 arrests and seized drugs worth
UKP3,650. Street trading officers seized nearly 1,000 DVDs from illegal
sellers and trading standards officers seized counterfeit goods worth
more than UKP4million.

Anti-social behaviour crusader Silla Carron, from the Castlehaven
estate, said: "A few of the dealers will come back and a few of them
never left. I think it's had an effect but I think we have to change
people's attitudes. We need a lot more police to be able to do the job
effectively and make it sustainable.

"There's a lot more people willing to report and give information and
that's very positive. There's still a culture out there that will do
it [deal drugs] and I don't know whether that will change but it's
worth keeping going."

The Ham&High tested the effects of the blitz on Monday afternoon, the
last day of the one-month crackdown.

Walking past Camden Lock bridge groups of dealers were not as
conspicuous as usual. But it was soon apparent they were just being
more cautious. Two separate individuals offered skunk (super-strength
cannabis) outside music shop Fopp, by the bridge. Walking a few metres
down Chalk Farm Road towards Camden Town tube station a youth outside
a shop again offered skunk.

On Inverness Street it appeared to be business as usual. A youth
immediately offered skunk in whatever quantity required and others
followed suit.

Councillor Ben Rawlings said: "The idea of once a year having a
month-long blitz is not in itself a particularly useful strategy.

"The challenge is to take lessons from it with our review of
anti-social behaviour orders, controlled drinking zones and dispersal
notices so we can look at what works. Looking at evidence we can see
how, where and when more police resources and more council resources
are effective. If high visibility patrols are more effective that's
what we'll look at doing."