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Council paid drug dealers for tips on trade in Brixton
Amar Singh15 May 2009
Drug dealers were paid by a London council as part of a research project, it was revealed today.
Lambeth council used public money to pay 40 known dealers for information about the drug trade in Brixton.
They were taking part in interviews as part of the Labour-run council's plans to draw up a new strategy on tackling drug use.
Lambeth then planned a “name and shame” campaign in which the identities of convicted dealers and users would be declared on posters in the town centre.
But since the campaign was launched in June last year, the details of just three people given anti-social behavioural orders banning them from Brixton have been published.
The council confirmed that the dealers were paid about £20 each for the interview.
A spokeswoman said: “This was a complex issue and we needed detailed intelligence to tackle it which is why we interviewed dealers as part of our research.
“In line with good research practice, a small payment was offered so that people would take part. As a direct result of this research, we've been in a better position to tackle the drugs market and 15 per cent fewer residents now perceive drug crime to be a problem.”
Lambeth councillor Mark Bennett defended the project and campaign: “Our drugs deterrence policy has done exactly what it intended — deter drug dealers from our streets. It is just one part of our tough approach.”
Brixton's Coldharbour Lane remains a focal point for drug dealing. Last month six suspected crack cocaine dealers and six users were arrested after 200 police officers swooped on the street.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Sedgemore, who led the operation, claimed offenders make up to 1,000 drug deals a week there.
Following the arrests a dispersal zone was introduced to the area giving officers and Police Community Support Officers greater powers to “move on” people who cause residents, businesses, or visitors, to feel threatened or intimidated in the town centre.
Councillors and the police have also proposed removing public phone boxes in the street, which are said to encourage drug dealing and associated crime.
Reader views (10)
Spent a couple of years working in Lambeth just off the Black Prince Road . after working the Middle East,Russia and Africa this was this was the scariest place I have ever had the misfortune to be in
- Pws, Perth Australia, 17/05/2009 10:21
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so a council official is aiding and abbetting drug dealers in Lambeth...! Why am I NOT surprised!
Another Labour Policy to fleece the taxpayers.
- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have, 15/05/2009 22:22
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£20 will buy a dealer another crack hit so no wonder they will coopperate! Well done council!
- Jules_London, london, 15/05/2009 15:22
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Utter utter rubbish from a failed and incompetent Labour Council who no doubt regard the drug dealers as "partners" worthy of the receipt of tax payers money rather than the criminal scum that they are. Lambeth's Labour Council are just as responsible for the decay and destruction of Brixton as are the dealers.
- Matt, London, UK, 15/05/2009 15:05
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About right for Lambeth Council who are almost as bad as Harringay
- Mike, London England, 15/05/2009 14:10
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There are more cameras in Brixton than in Hollywood.Its all down to resources,priorities and will,failing which nothing will change in Brixton, which looks like one of the most deprived areas in the country
- Baldini, London England, 15/05/2009 12:06
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The fact is, that no matter how much spin and lies about "diversity" and "vibrancy" that the council put out, Brixton is a dump, I know because I live there.
Just step out of the Tube station and have a look around. A
noisy, filthy high street - just look at the floors above the shop fronts - who owns these buildings?
The little parks around the Ritzy cinema? An open-air holding pen for the terminally drunk and drugged. Teenage drug dealers hanging around everywhere, openly advertising to passers-by. A shabby sign above the Town Hall door boasts about how council tax hasn't gone up this year - presumably because they put the borough's rents up by over 10 per cent to cover up their cack-handed financial mis-management.
No one in their right mind would come here except to buy drugs.
- Sarahn, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:36
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...the Labour-run council's plans
Says it all really.No doubt they treated them with the respeck they don't deserve!
- Steve, London, 15/05/2009 11:25
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Boris Johnson should really get a grip on what is going on in the city for which he was elected mayor. I know he says he won't be around for long but the drugs pronlem obviously will
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 15/05/2009 10:59
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Why would any dealer accept JUST £20.00 for an interview when there is apparently so much more money available simply peddling the drugs?
If as reported the dealers make up to 1000 deals per week then why on earth would any dealer waste their valuable time with a Lambeth Research Project to gain just an extra £20.00? Don't normal market research companies normally pay substantially more for information and opinions?
Is there really any accuracy in this article or is it just another example of New Labour SPIN? After all, are Lambeth trying to make out that drug dealers in their borough are "stupid" by accepting what is tantamount to a £20.00 bribe so that their colleagues and/or competition (other drug dealers) can get busted?
- Fraser, Telford Park, 15/05/2009 09:52
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