COCAINE FEARS MUST BE PUT IN PERSPECTIVE

I am writing in my capacity as Local Policing Area Chief Inspector
for North Devon and Torridge to comment on the front page headline
article in last week's Journal: 'Tests show Cocaine use is rife
across North Devon'.Firstly, may I state that I welcome the Journal
raising this issue and prompting a debate that has already been
evident elsewhere in the country.

The widespread use of cocaine, an addictive and illegal class A drug,
has been highlighted not only nationally but internationally for several years.

It may interest Journal readers to know that 80% of the world's
cocaine is produced in Colombia. This production forms an industry
worth more than Kelloggs, Microsoft and Coca Cola combined. The US
Treasury currently provides the Colombian government more than 700m a
year in aid to fight cocaine production, more than it gives to any
other country outside of the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The Colombian government conservatively estimates that 388,000 acres
of national parkland is used for the growing of Coca and 10% of those
employed to try and eradicate this production were killed last year.

The worldwide demand for this damaging drug is clearly on a massive scale.

It is sometimes easy for us to presume that a place like North Devon
can remain cut off from such drug-related matters. The Journal's
investigation clearly indicates that we form part of this wider,
national problem. However, I do feel some context needs to be placed
on the specific issues the investigation raises.

The cocaine swabs used by the Journal have been used in a similar way
across the country in the past few years. While I would not wish to
question the accuracy of these swabs as an indicator, I would agree
with the comments made by Geoffrey Cox, MP, that the sensitivity of
the swabs suggest the results should be viewed cautiously.

Recent investigations by ITN, for instance, showed an 80% + positive
result. In Ireland more than 90% of premises tested showed positive
results and similar tests carried out by the media, including sister
titles of the Journal, have shown equally surprisingly high positive
traces of cocaine in many areas, including high profile places such
as the Welsh Assembly and the EU Parliament buildings. It is also a
stated fact that almost every single bank note in the US is
contaminated by traces of cocaine. I am of the opinion that secondary
transfer of particles has to be considered when faced with such a
high percentage of positive results and it is fair to say that many
of the premises tested as positive hardly seem the most obvious
places to snort cocaine.

In view of the above, I would wish to reassure our local communities
that, while the misuse of this drug is very much of concern, the
results obtained locally do not in any way indicate that North Devon
has a disproportionate cocaine problem when compared with any other
part of the country. We all have a responsibility to ensure fear of
crime locally is proportionate and as always I would highlight that
we live in one of the safest parts of the country. I can also assure
you that your local police, along with partner agencies, consistently
and proactively target those who deem it acceptable to supply or
misuse illegal drugs and I would urge anybody who has any piece of
information relating to drugs, however small, to contact their local
police station or Crimestoppers.

This information enables us to build an Intelligence picture which I
can assure you we do act upon.

I am happy to discuss local policing issues and can be contacted
direct at Barnstaple police station on 01271 335206 or via e-mail:
Paul.DAVIES2@ devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

CHF INSP PAUL DAVIES,

Local Policing Area Chief Inspector,

North Devon and Torridge.