Safer Merton – a partnership between the council, police and other agencies – will be cracking down on drug crime, targeting suspected crack houses and offering vital help and access to treatment for addicts as part of National Tackling Drugs Week, which kicks off on Monday 19 May and lasts until Friday 23 May.

Merton police and drug action agencies work throughout the year to make the borough safe for residents but National Tackling Drugs Week gives the teams the chance to publicise their efforts and raise awareness of their important work.

Police Safer Neighbourhood teams across Merton are continually working to make sure residents’ concerns about drug dealing in the local area are reported and acted on quickly while across the country successful policing of Class A drugs continues to rise.

This has helped to almost double our detection rates of drug offences over the last 12 months, and officers have solved 83% of all suspected drug crimes in the borough, including possession and dealing.

But addicts also need help to tackle their drug dependence and Safer Merton’s Reassurance Bus will be touring the borough with drug workers on board to hand out information about the dangers of drug abuse and to offer advice to parents, families and schools as well as those affected by addiction.

Throughout the country more and more addicts are entering treatment programmes, which are increasingly tailored to individuals’ needs.

Merton Council cabinet member for community safety and engagement Councillor Tariq Ahmad said: “Merton is consistently amongst the safest boroughs in London but drug dealing and drug dependency are still among the main causes of crime across the city.

“It is vital we do everything we can to put the safety and quality of life of our residents first by supporting and working proactively with the police and the drug agencies in their work to stop the producers and the dealers and help the addicts so they can come off drugs for good, and make a positive contribution to society in the future.”

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Press contact
Isabel Gompertz
Communications Assistant
London Borough of Merton
020 85453274