We recently reported that Bedfordshire Police seized 40,000 cannabis plants across the county last year.
SOPHIE SCOTT spoke to Detective Superintendent Paul Coombes about the force’s drugs initiatives
With almost 29 years service with Bedfordshire Police, Detective Superintendent Paul Coombes appears to have seen it all.
Just this week, officers raided a property in Haynes and discovered hundreds of cannabis plants.
While last week, a man called Jian Lui was sent to prison for cultivating the class B drug in flats in Bedford.
He claimed he thought he was looking after chrysanthemums.
The challenge though for the police is gathering the information that can bring down the suppliers.
Class A drugs, like heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine, are the main focus of investigations.
Det Supt Coombes explained: “These are our main concern. As, unfortunately, there are hierarchy battles between different groups, where they will rob others or use violence. It is this supremacy battle that causes us an issue and the harm that it can cause innocent bystanders.
“Violence across the county tends to be drugs related quite often. There is a link between the supply and access to fire arms.
As a force we concentrate on those types of suppliers. We are also finding that because the sentences for Class A drugs are a lot harder, many dealers are using Class B drugs as a quick and easy substitute financial benefit.
“There is a move back towards suppliers using warehouses to grow cannabis.
“It used to always be warehouses, then when we cracked down on that it went to residential houses but it is now going back to warehouses.
“Growing cannabis is becoming organised.”
The police use different methods to catch the people at the top of the chain. From undercover work where officers will try to buy drugs, to surveillance, but sometimes it is just information from residents who have noticed certain things happening and reported that to the police.
As an example, he explains how years ago there was a big problem with dealing in the three blocks of high-rise flats in Marsh Farm, Luton.
“Users would come to a phone box beneath the flats and they would then be told where to go to pick up the drugs.
“In the end we did get there and created a place that was hostile to actually deal drugs. When there are more people who are aware of drugs being sold then there is more chance that the dealers will be caught.
“In Marsh Farm after we stopped this happening there was a drop in crime of 33 per cent.
“You see, if people are that desperate for drugs they will steal whatever they can so they can get drugs – be that £100 worth of electronics for £20 worth of drugs.
“Often you will find that they just hand over the property, rather than money, for the drugs.”
Similarly, a police officer in the 90s noticed that people wanting to buy drugs would always go to the same phone box in Midland Road, Bedford, to contact the dealers. He got the phone box removed.
Det Supt Coombes said: “What you find in a lot of these cases is that the suppliers are often very clever people. If they put their brains to some good then they could actually be good.”
One of the main things Beds Police focus on is taking the proceeds of crime. Last year they secured £1 million.
This then dismantles the organisation, so that when the offenders are released from prison they cannot just walk back into their old lifestyle. This money can then be used in the community.
But, it is not just the suppliers that the police focus on. There is, of course, the drug users.
“The best way to keep people off drugs is education. But it is a complex area. Users will often commit crime to fund their habit and will find themselves in court for shoplifting. We hope to work to break this cycle. The courts have been quite good at giving addicts the chance to work with our partners to help work through their addiction.
“But at the same time, if that person who has been given that chance then chooses to go back to crime then the courts will deal with them more harshly.”
