The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Community hoping for an end to months of drug crime misery
Week-long operation sees first period of quiet in towns for some time
“I’ve seen first-hand cars deliberately torched and the fear that instils in people.
LEA MCLELLAND
Months of fear and intimidation have been inflicted on a Fife community by those involved in drug crime.
Beleaguered residents in Ballingry, Benarty and Lochgelly have faced a daily succession of violent incidents, fuelled by drug trade criminals, which has included vehicles deliberately being set alight and individuals attacked.
Operation BOO, a week-long Police Scotland zero tolerance initiative, in which local officers maintained a roundthe-clock high-profile presence in the area, has been deemed a success.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said the last week had been the first quiet one for months.
They said: “It’s not right for people to have to put up with such incidents, seeing cars being deliberately set on fire as an act of intimidation or revenge such as fights and attacks taking place in broad daylight.
“The police presence has reduced the level of drug crime to virtually nothing in the last week so everyone’s hoping the momentum can continue.”
Councillor Lea Mclelland, who lives just yards from where some of the worst incidents have taken place, said many of the problems have been fuelled by rival individuals trying to dominate drug dealing in the area.
“It’s serious drug-related criminality with the dealing of class A drugs such as crack cocaine which has resulted in months of mayhem.
“I’ve seen first-hand cars deliberately torched and the fear that instils in people. We need to put a stop to such behaviour and the police operation was not before time.
“The overwhelming majority of residents are hard-working, law-abiding people who just want to get on with their lives.
“I’ve been assured by local community officers that while Operation BOO might have moved on to another area, police will continue to target those in the area who are at the root of many of the problems.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed there had been several arrests as a result of the initiative, including a 24-year-old female in the Benarty area found in possession of cannabis, which had a street value of up to £450.