Cheshire Constabulary have created a new initiative to improve our communities and give everyone a chance to play their part. From sports in our schools to safety on our roads, the waste on our streets to the health and well-being of our neighbours. What can you do? As much as you want or feel like. It's about the little things that help make your community a more pleasant place to live.
Chief Constable's Message | Chairman's Message | Parents | Residents | Schools | Housing Associations | Everyone
What Are Drug Dens?
Drug Dens or Crack houses are defined as:
'Premises which have been taken over by drug dealers and users of Class A drugs (cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and ecstasy)'
Drug dens provide a base for criminals and cause misery to those living nearby. They create anti-social behaviour, noise and criminal activity, with people coming and going at all times of day and night. They sometimes present a physical risk to the neighbourhood with needles discarded in the street, causing problems for council workers whose job it is to deal with this mess, or for housing officers who are responsible for the homes in the area.
Drug dealing is a serious threat to the quality of life in our communities. Research shows that there is a link between drug use and crime; around three-quarters of crack and heroin users steal to feed their habit. Around half of all acquisitive crime funds drug deals, so even if you don’t live near a drug den or dealer, you may become a victim of drug-related crime.
Our priority is to focus on closing drug dens and disrupting local drug markets, by getting at the suppliers as well as the dealers. Ultimately, we do need to target the ‘overlords’ who run the organised crime networks that are behind local dealers. If we do that we will reduce other crime as well as protecting our local communities.
A significant number of Drug Dens have been closed down and the drive to tackle drug-related crime continues. Standing together to make your community safer.