Police to tackle Glasgow drug deaths
A new strategy designed to tackle drug-related deaths in Glasgow is being developed by police.
Statistics released by the National Records of Scotland in July 2019 showed the number of drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2018 was 1,187 - the largest ever recorded and more than double the number a decade ago.
Police Scotland will now carry out eight days of strategic action across October focusing on the city centre and parts of the east end.
It will involve plain-clothed officers gathering intelligence, while high-visibility patrols will also be deployed in targeted areas''.
Superintendent Gary l'Anson, of Greater Glasgow's partnerships and resourcing team, said: Enforcement alone will not solve this problem and we need to enhance our work with partners such as Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership, which includes the council, NHS and social work, to give people the best service specific to their needs.
There's no easy answer to tackling drug-related deaths but I'm keen that Police Scotland plays its part in the overall plan.
During the days of action, people will see more high-visibility patrols in targeted areas involved in intelligence-led operations.
There will also be plain-clothed officers gathering intelligence and outreach teams working alongside us.
The police are expected to provide that enforcement role and that's a crucial part of what we do but there will be other things happening behind the scenes that the public might not see.''
The days of action are focused on the city centre, Calton and lower Dennistoun.
It comes after concerns were raised by people in the community and local businesses.
Glasgow had 280 drug-related deaths in 2018, which is the highest rate at 0.30 per 1,000 population based on a 2014-2018 average, according to National Records of Scotland statistics.
The strategy will be developed and reviewed by looking at enforcement results, intelligence gathering, joint activity with outreach teams and referrals to the Positive Outcomes Project (POP).
POP is a team of police officers, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership and the criminal justice charity Aid and Abet, which mentors and works with people who persistently offend to afford a substance addiction.
Feedback from the work will go to Police Scotland's national drug strategy group which will support the Scottish Government's Drugs Death Taskforce.
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