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| Swansea heroin rehab shortage fears - police | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A police chief has warned that a crackdown on heroin in Swansea could be undermined by lack of rehabiliation places. | |
| There are 3,000 heroin users and police say 80% of the city's most prolific offenders are users of the drug. | There are 3,000 heroin users and police say 80% of the city's most prolific offenders are users of the drug. |
| Police have launched a £500,000 campaign against drug dealing, while addicts will be referred for treatment. | |
| But there are concerns over whether agencies providing treatment will be able to deal with the extra work. | But there are concerns over whether agencies providing treatment will be able to deal with the extra work. |
| Drug rehabilitation agencies support the campaign but, if there are not enough treatment places, they fear users could slip back into a life of addiction and crime. | Drug rehabilitation agencies support the campaign but, if there are not enough treatment places, they fear users could slip back into a life of addiction and crime. |
| Christine Skelton, the manager of the Cyrenians homeless drop-in centre in the city, said: "The resources we have in Swansea are excellent - we have some brilliant agencies, we just haven't got enough. | Christine Skelton, the manager of the Cyrenians homeless drop-in centre in the city, said: "The resources we have in Swansea are excellent - we have some brilliant agencies, we just haven't got enough. |
| "Unless we receive more funding around this, it could get significantly worse." | "Unless we receive more funding around this, it could get significantly worse." |
| Drug gangs | Drug gangs |
| The latest battle to rid the city of its title as the heroin capital of Wales is costing South Wales Police £500,000. | The latest battle to rid the city of its title as the heroin capital of Wales is costing South Wales Police £500,000. |
| Ch Supt Mark Mathias, who shares the concerns of the agencies, said the money on the campaign was well spent. | Ch Supt Mark Mathias, who shares the concerns of the agencies, said the money on the campaign was well spent. |
| "Each addict could cost society not far off £850,000," he said. | "Each addict could cost society not far off £850,000," he said. |
| "When you work through all the treatment, all the criminal justice issues that arise, then you see a significant number of costs involved." | "When you work through all the treatment, all the criminal justice issues that arise, then you see a significant number of costs involved." |
| BBC Wales current affairs programme Week In Week Out was given behind the scenes access to the clampdown on dealers and users. | BBC Wales current affairs programme Week In Week Out was given behind the scenes access to the clampdown on dealers and users. |
| Recent raids have uncovered links with drug gangs from as far afield as Liverpool and London. | Recent raids have uncovered links with drug gangs from as far afield as Liverpool and London. |
| Supt Phil Davies said South Wales Police was committed to dismantling the illegal trade. | Supt Phil Davies said South Wales Police was committed to dismantling the illegal trade. |
| "Some of these drug dealers have stated they are untouchable," he said. | "Some of these drug dealers have stated they are untouchable," he said. |
| "My message to them is there is no hiding place, we will find you, we will catch you and we will put you behind bars." | "My message to them is there is no hiding place, we will find you, we will catch you and we will put you behind bars." |
| In the last fortnight, heroin which would have been turned into 1,100 street deals has been seized. | In the last fortnight, heroin which would have been turned into 1,100 street deals has been seized. |
| Treatment programme | Treatment programme |
| Those addicted to heroin are also being targeted. | Those addicted to heroin are also being targeted. |
| Police want users to break away from the drug to cut crime, but also to try to turn around people's lives. | Police want users to break away from the drug to cut crime, but also to try to turn around people's lives. |
| Feeding a habit in the city can cost up to £100 a day. | Feeding a habit in the city can cost up to £100 a day. |
| Amy Protheroe, who has been an addict since she was 13, is now 20 and has just begun her fifth treatment programme. | Amy Protheroe, who has been an addict since she was 13, is now 20 and has just begun her fifth treatment programme. |
| Her addiction has led her to crime and she admits it has had a devastating impact on her life. | Her addiction has led her to crime and she admits it has had a devastating impact on her life. |
| "When you're a heroin addict you go to bed, you wake up and you open your eyes like that and you think straight away 'where am I going to get money from, where am I going to score from?'" she said. | "When you're a heroin addict you go to bed, you wake up and you open your eyes like that and you think straight away 'where am I going to get money from, where am I going to score from?'" she said. |
| "You get up, you go out, you get the money for the heroin, you buy the heroin, you do the heroin and then it starts all over again. | "You get up, you go out, you get the money for the heroin, you buy the heroin, you do the heroin and then it starts all over again. |
| "To be honest, heroin has wrecked my life." | "To be honest, heroin has wrecked my life." |
| Week In Week Out can be seen on Tuesday 1 November on BBC One Wales at 22:35 GMT | Week In Week Out can be seen on Tuesday 1 November on BBC One Wales at 22:35 GMT |