Fake Valium cops bungled investigation into death of our sister
Police apologise for giving brush-off to grieving family of street Valium victim They took 7 WEEKS to investigate despite dealer being named by relatives They are forced to change procedures so the dead are now treated with respect
A HEARTBROKEN family have accused police of treating their dead sister and other victims of Scotland’s street Valium epidemic as “just junkies”.
Police Scotland have apologised to Christina Craig’s loved ones for taking nearly SEVEN WEEKS to appoint an officer to investigate the dealer who sold her the killer blue pills. They also admit their investigation fell “below the standards expected”.
Christina, 43, was one of six friends from Toryglen, Glasgow, who died within eight months of each other after taking street Valium.
Her family say police were given the names and details of the victims’ dealers “from day one” but took no action.
Police Scotland say they have changed how they handle drug deaths after looking into complaints from the families of all the victims.
But Christine’s relative angrily accused them of failing to value her sister’s life.
The family member told the Daily Record yesterday: “The police took the view, in our opinion, that the people dying were just junkies and didn’t merit any proper investigation.
“It was only after the Daily Record got involved, and Nicola Sturgeon took an interest as constituency MP, that they burst into action. They battered through suspects’ doors and put up a big visible presence.
“We were furious none of that happened in the first place. We were undoubtedly just brushed off.
“All six victims were given pills by the same dealers, whose names were repeatedly given to police from day one. Police took the names and did nothing.
“It doesn’t matter what restrictions they have with cash and resources. Bereaved families need to be treated with more respect.
“The deaths of people who were sold drugs the dealers knew were killing people should be a high priority.
“We think it should be regarded as murder, or manslaughter at least.
“But the police seemed to think it was some kind of minor drug-dealing offence.”
Christina and her friends Margo Welsh, 41, Arlene Chapman, 33, Graham Murphy, 43, Lizzie Malone, 44, and Stephen Prete, 45, died within eight months of each other in the period up to January this year.
Police were repeatedly given the dealers’ names but did nothing until Sturgeon contacted senior local officers to demand action.
All six families complained and police launched an internal investigation that took three months.
Now the officer in charge, Chief Inspector Craig Willison, has written to Christina’s family to apologise.
He told them: “The inquiry officer and his supervisor state that he was appointed as inquiry officer more than six weeks after your sister’s death.
“The process for allocating an inquiry officer has not been followed on this occasion. It is my determination that this element of your complaint is upheld.
“It would appear communication and administrative errors have been the cause of the officer not being appointed at an earlier stage.”
Mr Willison apologised to the family “in respect of this, and also the previous element of your complaint, which resulted in the investigation falling below the standards expected”.
He added: “Since the death of your sister, new procedures surrounding the allocation and management of drugs death enquiries have been implemented.
“I am confident these new procedures will reduce the possibility of any repeats and failings.” Yesterday, Mr Willison admitted to the Record that police had made mistakes over the Toryglen deaths.
He said: “The police must await results of toxicology analysis following any unexplained death, and this may take several months.”
But he added: “During a period of bereavement, families should expect to receive support and regular updates from police. This did not happen on this occasion.”
Mr Willison said that under the new procedures in Greater Glasgow, the force’s criminal investigation co-ordination unit would work to identify drug deaths early so resources could be allocated.
He added that a framework had been put in place to monitor investigations.
David Liddell of the Scottish Drugs Forum welcomed the changes.
He said: “The human story in drug-related deaths is too often missed. Families, friends and witnesses need support, and a clear indication that they are not being dismissed or ignored.
“Bereaved families need to know the authorities, including the police, respect them.
“The stigma experienced by drug users and their families is unhelpful. It’s a barrier to seeing the human side of these tragic events.”
Millions of lethal fake Valium pills are on Scotland’s streets. Drug workers fear they have played a part in hundreds of deaths. Valium is a trade name for diazepam, a powerful sedative and muscle relaxant. But the fake pills typically contain etizolam, which can be deadly when taken with other street drugs.
Street Valium tablets often contain food dye which turns users’ mouths blue. The pills can also be yellow or white. They cost as little as 50p each.
We broke the news of the Toryglen deaths in January. One victim’s mum said at the time: “I went to all six funerals, including my own daughter’s.
“I’ve been reading about these fake pills killing people all over Scotland. Now it’s happened here and no one in authority seems to give a damn.”