DRUGS CAMPAIGN AIMED AT PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS

PRIMARY school age children are being targeted in an underage drinking
crackdown in Londonderry that has already resulted in the seizure of
home-made devices for smoking drugs.

Police have described as "very worrying" the discovery of the improvised
'bongs' and commercially-available 'dope pipes' during last weekend's
operation in the Rosemount, Creggan and City Walls areas.

The items were seized along with "substantial" amounts of alcohol during the
ongoing operation.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's continued crackdown, Chief Superintendent
Richard Russell said that a number of youngsters have already been reported
to the youth diversion officer.

"The operation is aimed at under-17s and we are getting people as young as
13 or 14- years-old - although in some cases they are within a couple of
years younger than that."

The Foyle district commander said that reports would be prepared for every
incident and that more serious cases would be sent to the Director of Public
Prosecutions.

Although laws against possession of cannabis were recently relaxed, the
Derry police chief said that it is still viewed here as a "serious offence"
and that "in every case we will prepare a report with a view to
prosecution".