Drug dealing and substance misuse in the spotlight as PCC scrutinises progress against public's top priorities

Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts has undertaken in-depth scrutiny of the work underway to tackle public concerns over drug crime and substance misuse across Derbyshire.

In her latest Public Assurance Meeting (PAM), the Derbyshire PCC reviewed a detailed report by the force on the steps it is taking with partners to disrupt drug dealing, divert people with addiction issues into treatment and protect young people from being exploited by serious and organised criminality.

Drug and alcohol misuse is one of six key pillars in the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan which prioritises the issues ranked highest by the public during her extensive engagement.

More than one in three (35%) of residents responding to the Commissioner's recent Police and Crime Plan survey placed drug and substance misuse in their top three priorities for public safety.

During the meeting, which is available for the public to download on the PCC's website, the force's drugs lead, Assistant Chief Constable James Abdy, provided an overview of the collaborative work being delivered through the county's Drugs and Alcohol Strategic Partnership (DASP) to reduce the harm caused by drug dealing and substance misuse.

He said partners had made progress against a series of key priorities. Highlights include:

• A 9.6% increase in the number of adults in substance misuse treatment between March 2022 and March 2024.
• 179 recorded disruptions against county lines organised crime groups in the past 12 months with 53 people (including 34 children) safeguarded
• Over 1,300 police officers trained in the use of overdose antidote Naloxone which has been used 26 times, each time saving lives. 31 probation staff also trained to administer the drug.
• Reduction of 1.3% in the number of violent and sexual offences that are alcohol-related in the past 12 months, continuing a downward trajectory.
• Up to January 2025, the force had conducted 285 drug tests on arrest in custody - 63% of which were positive.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said: "Drug crime and substance misuse shatters lives and not just those directly impacted. Many of the crimes in our communities including burglaries and robberies are committed by those desperate to feed their addictions while the very real risks of County Lines and serious organised crime is putting our children and young people at risk of exploitation. On top of this, the costs on the public purse are significant, reducing capacity in our public services and resulting in higher taxes for us all.

"Residents and businesses in Derbyshire are rightly worried about drug crime and substance misuse and I have taken onboard these concerns, ensuring this issue is one of six key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan. 

"Prevention is key, and I am reassured by the work of the force, and the wider partnership, in rolling out programmes that help young people make safer choices and divert those who have already crossed the line into offending.

"Equally, I am encouraged by the extensive enforcement work to disrupt County Lines activity which is safeguarding vulnerable people including children, and greater use of Drug Testing on Arrest and community sentences to support people to seek treatment. 

"This holistic approach must be balanced with strong and robust enforcement against those who exploit and profit through drugs and devastate lives for their own gain. Our communities have a right to peace and safety, and it is unacceptable that local lives are being impacted by drug crime and drug taking in full view of their families.

"I will continue to support the force and our partners in every way I can to ensure officers have the equipment, expertise and capabilities needed to expose more illicit drug networks and to bring those accountable to justice. I would also repeat ACC's Abdy's plea that anyone with information reports it to the Constabulary, Crimestoppers or partners to help officers glean as much information as possible to build a picture of this activity to target further enforcement." 

A key part of the assurance process is responding to public questions and the Chief Constable was on hand to answer individual questions submitted by the public in advance covering a range of issues connected to drug dealing and substance misuse.

The podcast and associated papers are available by clicking here.