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'COLD TURKEY' FOR CHRISTMAS

24/12/2002

DRUG rehabilitation workers in Middleton are braced for a Christmas rush after a police swoop took 13 suspected drug dealers off the streets of Langley.

The Middleton Community Outreach Team, which offers access to a needle exchange and advice for drug users, anticipate that their resources will be stretched over what is sure to be a busy Christmas period.

Greater Manchester Police's recent Operation Infinity, in which 16 people were arrested on the Langley estate on suspicion of supplying drugs or drug related crimes, is expected to lead to Christmas queues of drug users, now facing "cold turkey" this Christmas.

Clinics are based at Langley's Wood Street Centre and Long Street's Brentwood Day Care.

The clinics are visible, high profile ways of promoting drug awareness in the town and offer treatment to help those suffering from drug addiction to give up drugs.

Team manager Lesley King said: "I think it will take a few days before the impact of the police operation is felt among local users. We are involved in an ongoing project that we're hoping to develop across Middleton so that we can react positively and offer the correct treatment.

Unfortunately for us, the expected increase in people seeking help has come at a bad time, as both the community drugs team and community outreach team are working with just a skeleton staff over Christmas."

During the Christmas period, advisors and the needle exchange service will be available every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. No substitute prescriptions will be available until the New Year other than for those who have already been receiving treatment from the clinic.

Middleton workers have been unable to secure the services of the Health Rover, a minibus they were hoping to station in Langley to offer advice and assistance. Bought with public donations, the minibus should be available all year round. However, the splitting of the Acute Trust and the Primary Care Trust earlier this year has led to confusion over who actually owns the minibus.

Lesley King added: "It is such a waste that the bus has been sitting idle, especially in the busy few days before Christmas. We are making every effort to put support mechanisms in place in time for Christmas but we have been unable to hire the minibus, because no-one will say who we can hire it from."

The Brentwood Centre's Senior Project Worker, Carol Connell, said: "For the past few months, we have been able to provide quick and easy access for users to get the help they need to come off drugs. Rochdale Council are addressing the drug problem by funding the fast track services and reacting to the problems in the town with drugs and the related crimes that impact on the wider community. Previously, it would take months between the person's initial approach for help and them actually receiving the required assistance. Now we feel that we can get them the help they need quickly and we're excited about the progress that we have made."

The rehabilitation programmes include training courses designed to raise a user's self-esteem and possibly help unemployed drug users find work again. Once people have made the initial contact with the team, they are given as much help as possible in accessing the treatments they require to give up drugs.

On an average day, around 25 people visit the Brentwood Centre to seek help for their drug problems. Outreach workers can then refer them immediately to the drug and alcohol team who can assess their circumstances and arrange help from rehabilitation centres.

For help or advice from the project workers, contact Karen on 07971 498191 or Sue on 07815 804988. Alternatively, the National Drugs Helpline is manned 24hours a day and can be contacted on 0800 766600. Adfan is a dedicated helpline for families, partners and friends who suffer from the effects of a loved one's dependency. They can be contacted on 0207 928 8900 and will call you back immediately.

POLICE made 16 arrests in dawn swoops on suspected drug dealers in Langley.

During raids at 10 addresses on the estate, last Wednesday, officers arrested eight men and four women on suspicion of supplying heroin and cocaine and other drug related crimes. Another person was subsequently charged with supplying Class A drugs and three others were arrested on other drug charges.

Officers from the Tactical Aid, dog handling and Crime Scene Examination units gathered before daylight on Thursday 19 December, and struck at 10 addresses at around 6am.

The raids were carried out as part of Operation Infinity, a six-month intelligence gathering operation that was established to tackle the drug problem in Langley. During the operation, the divisional personnel compiled evidence from a range of sources, including information given anonymously by the public to Crimestoppers.

More than 70 officers from Greater Manchester were involved in the raids, including Chief Constable Michael Todd, who was actively involved in a strike at one address with a team of officers from the Tactical Aid Unit.

Chief Constable Todd said: "The officers from Middleton have worked very hard throughout this operation and I'm pleased that I've been able to take part in operational police work. There is a great commitment from these officers to make Middleton a safer place to live and Operation Infinity has led them nearer to achieving this aim."

The people arrested, all aged between 25 and 45 years old, are being held at various locations in Greater Manchester. They were interviewed and charged to appear in court on Friday (20th).

Middleton Police Chief Inspector Jeff McMahon said: "We are extremely committed to tackling drugs and the problems they cause the residents of Middleton. Our efforts today illustrate our determination to remove drugs from the streets of Langley and surrounding areas. All the officers involved in Operation Infinity have worked extremely hard gathering intelligence over the last six months and also in making today's arrests.

"We've arrested 12 people here today, but our work will not stop here. We will continue to combat drugs and the adverse effects they have on levels of street crime and burglaries."

The arrests will have a significant impact on the drug problems affecting Langley and Middleton. Operation Infinity was funded by the Community Against Drugs campaign, who are offering assistance to drug users who want to kick the habit.

Medical staff at the Brentwood Day Care Centre and the Health Care Centre in Langley are currently running clinics to offer assistance and treatment to drug users. A mobile bus will also be stationed on the estate to offer advice and treatment to those affected by drug misuse.

Superintendent Peter Dawson from Middleton Police said: "There are very serious problems relating to cocaine and heroin, and it is very important that we tackle the issues in Langley.

"The knock-on effects are considerable, and users may turn to street crime and burglary to get the money to buy drugs.

"Hopefully this operation will help to eradicate the drug problem in Middleton. Although it is impossible to completely eradicate it, we are sending out the message that we will continue to arrest offenders."