Tackling drugs tops the agenda

10.05.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd May 2008

• RICHMOND Council, the police and a range of other organisations are joining forces this week to raise awareness of local efforts to combat drugs misuse.

They will be showing support for National Tackling Drugs Week, a Home Office initiative aimed at boosting efforts to tackle drugs and combat drugs-related crime and highlight the efforts being made in communities across the country. Locally, drugs awareness stalls run by the Community Safety Partnership, will be held at various railway stations in the borough. The aim is to provide information to parents concerning drugs their children may know about; and advertise local services for people with drug problems. Richmond Police will be carrying out a range of actions to combat drug dealing and drug use within the borough. They have also been working with the Community Safety Partnership and Primary Care Trust to ensure that the message reaches as wide an audience as possible.

Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Communities, Sir David Williams, said: "This special week provides a platform on which local agencies can highlight their efforts to tackle drug issues. And we are determined to increase awareness of the work being done locally by the Council, the police and a host of other organisations. Fortunately, here in Richmond upon Thames we don't have the illegal drug problem faced by some other boroughs where drugs and drug-related crime blight communities. But we do have parents who are worried about their children's exposure to the drug culture. And there are people using drugs who need to know there is help available and where to go for support to reduce the harm they are doing to themselves, their families and the community."