By Claire Warrender

FIFE CONSTABULARY seized almost £1.2 million worth of drugs from dealers across the region last year thanks to a major crackdown.

But with more drugs—and in particular class A drugs—coming into the region than ever before, and more people dying as a result, Fife’s drug squad officers are more than aware of the challenge facing them.

They are determined to meet that challenge, and since April 1 they have removed £118,675 worth from the region’s streets, including £105,000 worth of heroin. In addition, almost £40,000 of cash associated with drug dealing has been seized.

Heroin (or smack as it is commonly known) is the biggest problem facing the force, admits the head of the drugs squad, Detective Inspector Neil Kerr.

“There are more drugs available and, worryingly, there are more class A drugs available,” he said. “Heroin is cheaper than it used to be and a tenner bag has gone up in weight by 0.2 grammes.

“In the last four years in Fife we have exceeded almost all of our targets and have more than exceeded all previous records for seizures.”

There is traditionally more drug misuse in Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Levenmouth than elsewhere in the region, although there have also been issues in west Fife.

Intelligence suggests most of the drugs coming in to Fife are via the west of Scotland or major English cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, London and Newcastle, although the chain almost always originates abroad.

Those arrested for dealing drugs in the region tend to be in their early 20s through to late 40s.

Although heroin is the big problem at the moment, the squad is always keeping an eye on any emerging trends.

“We’ve not had experience of it so far, but the issue everybody is fearing is the wide-scale introduction of methamphetamine in Scotland,” said Mr Kerr.

“It’s a drug that can be easily produced if you get the right chemicals and the effects of it are devastating.

“Cocaine is one of these drugs that the first time you take it you are immediately addicted to it, and methamphetamine is much the same.

“There have been lots and lots of studies done in America and Canada and there are huge issues with it because it creates such a trail of disaster behind it.

“There are huge health issues, there’s a massive addiction issue and then there are other issues that come around that, such as crimes of dishonesty and robbery.”

Crime associated with drug taking, with people stealing to get the funds to feed their habit, is already an issue here thanks to heroin, but Mr Kerr believes drugs courts—pioneered in Fife —are making a difference.

“People going to the drug courts tend to be those at a lower level of drug use and they get help with their addiction through the courts,” he said.

“That frees up time for the court system to deal with those who are problematic to society. They are a good idea, without any doubt.”

The drugs squad is not just concerned with enforcement, he said, but is closely involved with education and health matters as well.

“The question everybody asks is, ‘Are you making a difference?’ I believe we are making a difference, but we alone are not going to be a solution for the drugs problem.”

Mr Kerr added, “I think everybody accepts there should be more resources put into education to better arm kids at an early age of the issues around drug use and drug misuse.

“There is also a health aspect. We probably work closer now with health boards and support groups and organisations than we have ever done, there has been a lot of input both ways which does help, although we could probably do more to be honest.”

He emphasised just how vital a part the public played in getting rid of drug dealers. “People phone us up to say there are issues with drug dealing in their area and nothing seems to be done about it,” he said.

“In both larger-scale or street dealing we rely on intelligence to start the process off. That comes from what I call community-based intelligence which is people close to those involved, or neighbours, etc.”

To secure a warrant from the courts or permission to begin a surveillance operation, police need at least two pieces of recent intelligence.

All drug squad officers have been trained in covert surveillance techniques and there is a surveillance operation going on every day somewhere in the region.

“We take every bit of intelligence very, very seriously. I come in early every morning and go through all the intelligence from the previous day and look at what we can take steps to resolve,” said Mr Kerr.

“We’ve been very lucky with the public in Fife. They are on board with us and it’s important to us that flow of information continues.”