SHERIFF ALISTAIR Duff yesterday questioned the value of the undercover operation aimed at ridding Dundee of heroin, after sentencing to probation the first heroin user in the city to be captured by Operation Waterloo.

Before him was Dean David Johnston (25), Arklay Street, who had admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin in Hilltown on June 17.

The court was told that, at about 4.30pm, two female undercover police officers, disguised as heroin addicts, spoke to the accused and asked if he knew anyone who could supply them with the drug.

Johnston said he didn’t know anyone, but he had a £20 bag of heroin he had bought that day.

He offered the bag to the women because one of them was “rattling badly” —withdrawing from heroin.

Sheriff Duff interrupted to clarify the woman was pretending to be withdrawing and was told she was.

Solicitor George Donnelly said undercover officers were working on the streets of Dundee to ensnare drug dealers.

He said, “However, this case is different. Johnston was simply walking down Hilltown when two females approached him.

“Their acting was so good that he felt sorry for them, particularly the one who appeared to be rattling.

“Johnston had just bought a deal for himself and out of sympathy passed over the £20 bag and said he would get some more for himself later.

“Here we have a heroin addict who gave assistance to an undercover police officer whose acting talents were so good that he took her for a genuine addict.

“That was the extent of his being concerned in the supply of drugs.”

Sheriff Duff told Johnston what he had done was indeed criminal, “and, while the use of undercover police officers is entirely appropriate, one has to wonder if having officers devote their time in this way gives value for money.”

Johnston also admitted stealing a copper water tank worth £650 from an empty house in the Hilltown area between July 3 and July 5.

On both matters, Sheriff Duff placed Johnston on probation for a year.

This week the assistant chief constable of Tayside said more assaults and robberies are taking place as a result of Operation Waterloo.

Clive Murray told Tayside Police Joint Board of the “unfortunate side-effect” linked to the success of the operation disrupting the supply of heroin and forcing up the price.

He suggested there is some evidence that, in desperation, some addicts are moving further afield— beyond the Hilltown and Maryfield areas—to commit crimes so they can feed their habit.

Levels of serious and violent crime in the first three months of the year mirrored 2007, but by the end of June, “There had been an increase of 39 crimes, with the majority being serious assault,” he said.

“Most of the increase occurred in central division (Dundee) and more recent analysis (to the end of July) indicates that out of 46 serious assaults recorded, 12 involved the use of a knife or bladed instrument.”

Referring to Waterloo, he said, “As anticipated, the police operation has led to some criminal behaviour, such as robbery, which can be associated with disruption of a localised drugs market.”

In 50% of the increase in robberies, those involved are heroin addicts, Mr Murray explained.

“In 82% of robberies detected, we are dealing with people with heroin addiction.

“In 50% of those, the relationship between the attacker and victim is in terms of both being addicted to heroin.”

As had been highlighted recently, there has also been some increase in prostitution in some areas and the spread of crimes from Waterloo is something the division commander is aware of and is tackling.