Drug crime doubles in North Somerset

4.17.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Aug 2009

Shocking new figures show that drug crime in North Somerset has more than doubled in the last five years.

Official Government figures show that the number of drug crimes in North Somerset has risen from 218 in 2004/05 to 463 in 2008/09.

The figures relate to recorded crimes where possession, production or supply of drugs was involved. They do not cover the much larger number of drug-related crimes where offences are committed to fund a drug 'habit' or antisocial behaviour caused by drugs.

Weston-super-Mare's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Mike Bell said: "I'm shocked at the scale of the increase. But it does reinforce what local residents have been saying to me: when will someone get to grips with our drug problem?

"We have been promised action by our politicians for years but has anyone noticed a difference? It's been over a decade since Tony Blair promised a Government that would be 'tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime'. It's clear that they have failed."

Mr Bell also revealed that only half of all convicted drug dealers are sent to prison and many are being let off with a caution.

In 2007, the year for which the most recent data is available, Ministry of Justice records show that 5,130 out of 9,564 dealers were jailed, a rate of 53 per cent.

Mike added: "These figures show that all too often drug dealing is being dealt with by a slap on the wrist rather than time behind bars.

"I live and work in Weston town centre and I see the effects of drug taking every day. Our experience here shows that the softly, softly approach isn't working.

"The fight against drugs is not easy, but we should be clear. Drugs destroy lives and ruin communities. Drug dealers should be caught and sent to prison. We need more police to fight back. Not sat behind desks filling in forms, but out on the streets bringing the dealers to book."

Mr Bell has written to the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police and the Home Secretary urging tough action to tackle drug dealing in Weston and elsewhere.

He has called for compulsory prison sentences for all drug dealers and for longer sentences for the worst offenders. He is also calling for more police to be allocated to Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset to tackle drug dealing.