Councillors air ‘new gang’ fears to police

Meeting: Scale of issue and impact of drug operation discussed

Fears have been raised that north-east residents are being targeted by a “new gang on the town”.

A major multi-agency operation has been under way across Aberdeenshire – and in the towns of Fraserburgh and Peterhead in particular.

It focuses on “county lines” and “cuckooing” crime, where drug gangs based in cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham expand into other areas such as the north-east.

While doing so, they pressure drug addicts owing them money to use their homes to deal from.

Through Operation Corner there have been some significant successes, but the scale of the illegal trade is such that it has been almost impossible for police to accurately address just how many gangs are operating.

Councillors are concerned by the illegal activity in north-east towns and yesterday had the opportunity to quiz police on the issue.

Detective Chief Inspector Finn McPhail told the councillors that a total of 53 people have been reported with resulting sentences of more than 20 years.

One year on from the launch of Operation Corner, £30,000 of heroin, £10,000 of cash and £8,000 worth of crack cocaine had been seized from the streets.

Det Ch Insp McPhail described the “innovative” approach of working with those who had been targeted by drug gangs to help keep them from reoffending and also to garner more information about the drug trade epidemic sweeping the north-east.

She added: “This paints a very positive picture and 64% of those identified have been engaging in our support services.

“This is not just a police problem, we realise this is a societal problem and we want to break the cycle.”

Fraserburgh councillor Doreen Mair quizzed the inspector about a “change in suppliers” and if there was a “new gang on the town”.

It was a question the inspector struggled to answer at the public meeting, replying: “There have been suggestions there are numerous groups operating across the northeast.

“It is difficult to identify how many but sadly we clearly have a number, from various areas, active here.”

Dawn Leslie, from the health and social care partnership, left the room shaken after reading out a “hard-hitting” letter from a woman who had been battling drug addiction and the law for 20 years.

But, after getting support from Operation Corner, she has turned her life around.

Ms Leslie read from the anonymous woman’s letter, saying: “A drug dealer had put a price on my head and threatened my family.

“I had a history of using drugs, had lost my kids and had no future.

“Now, one year on, I’m volunteering and have finally made a move away from drugs.”

Annette Strachan, of the council’s housing department, said staff were offering support to victims of cuckooing – stressing that research was undertaken to keep council staff safe.

She said: “Officers visit properties to build trust in the hope they will share information with them.

“There are not always risks from the tenant, but from other individuals in the property.”

Councillors praised all those involved in Operation Corner and described the letter read by Ms Leslie as a “deeply moving” and “tangible” reflection of how the scheme was helping vulnerable people.

“This is not just a police problem, this is a societal problem”

INNOVATIVE: Det Ch Insp Finn McPhail answered questions about drug gangs operating in north-east towns and how the police tackle them