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| Edwin Poots says police must not turn blind eye over drug dealing | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Health Minister Edwin Poots has said he would not be surprised if the police were turning a blind eye to the activities of some drug dealers in return for information from them. | The Health Minister Edwin Poots has said he would not be surprised if the police were turning a blind eye to the activities of some drug dealers in return for information from them. |
| He made his comments following the deaths in recent weeks of eight people who may have taken contaminated drugs. | He made his comments following the deaths in recent weeks of eight people who may have taken contaminated drugs. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said police did not tolerate criminality of any sort. | Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said police did not tolerate criminality of any sort. |
| Mr Poots said police must work to dispel the claims. | Mr Poots said police must work to dispel the claims. |
| He told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show: "I have heard that allegation made on a number of occasions by people who perhaps have some credibility and standing that that is the case," he said. | |
| "Therefore the police need to be very clear that drug dealing is something which is pernicious, it is something that they wish to eradicate and they will not give cover to people engaged in drug dealing for information perhaps on other things." | "Therefore the police need to be very clear that drug dealing is something which is pernicious, it is something that they wish to eradicate and they will not give cover to people engaged in drug dealing for information perhaps on other things." |
| ACC Harris said any suggestion that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) protected small-time drug dealers was just a "complete myth". | ACC Harris said any suggestion that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) protected small-time drug dealers was just a "complete myth". |
| "We work very hard in respect of illegal drugs, we do not protect individuals who are dealing in drugs," he said. | "We work very hard in respect of illegal drugs, we do not protect individuals who are dealing in drugs," he said. |
| "We recognise, one, the misery they cause in terms of the threat and the risk to people that may use these drugs, and overall then the crime and the harm that they cause to communities and the harm they cause to people and their families, and we work very hard on this." | "We recognise, one, the misery they cause in terms of the threat and the risk to people that may use these drugs, and overall then the crime and the harm that they cause to communities and the harm they cause to people and their families, and we work very hard on this." |
| The senior police officer said the PSNI's "whole emphasis" was not just on the "big dealers". | The senior police officer said the PSNI's "whole emphasis" was not just on the "big dealers". |
| "Obviously there is a big effort around the movement and trafficking of drugs but also we recognise what a concern it is to our communities and we want to clamp down on it," he said. | "Obviously there is a big effort around the movement and trafficking of drugs but also we recognise what a concern it is to our communities and we want to clamp down on it," he said. |
| Forensic tests | Forensic tests |
| "We can only clamp down on it with the public's assistance." | "We can only clamp down on it with the public's assistance." |
| Over the past number of weeks, seven people died in Belfast and one in the north west of Northern Ireland. They were all aged in their 20s and 30s. | Over the past number of weeks, seven people died in Belfast and one in the north west of Northern Ireland. They were all aged in their 20s and 30s. |
| Police are investigating to establish whether those who died took a tablet that they thought was ecstasy. | Police are investigating to establish whether those who died took a tablet that they thought was ecstasy. |
| Forensic tests are expected to reveal whether the deaths of the eight people are linked to a green tablet marked with a crown or castle. | Forensic tests are expected to reveal whether the deaths of the eight people are linked to a green tablet marked with a crown or castle. |
| Earlier Mr Poots said he was "very concerned" that the deaths could be linked to a lethal batch of drugs, although he said there was no evidence yet that this was the case. | Earlier Mr Poots said he was "very concerned" that the deaths could be linked to a lethal batch of drugs, although he said there was no evidence yet that this was the case. |
| He said there could be other explanations for the causes of deaths and that the PSNI had asked for the toxicology reports to be processed as soon as possible. | He said there could be other explanations for the causes of deaths and that the PSNI had asked for the toxicology reports to be processed as soon as possible. |
| He said his department was liaising closely with the Department of Justice, the PSNI and the Public Health Agency. | He said his department was liaising closely with the Department of Justice, the PSNI and the Public Health Agency. |
| Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said "police need to act" following the deaths. | Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said "police need to act" following the deaths. |