Martina Anderson (SF) condemns those behind attacks on PSNI

[factual]

http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=83894&pt=n

Attacks were launched on the PSNI last night in Derry's Brandywell district as they raided a house and found 150 ecstasy tablets, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.

Martina Anderson (SF Policing Board Rep and former SF Unionist Engagement Officer) condemned those behind the attacks, according to UTV.

She went on "We need to bring about an understanding of the idea of community policing and that needs to be discussed"

She added that there is a collective responsibility in areas like the Bogside and Creggan to engage in the policing debate.

The alleged drug dealer will be brought to court in the morning.

More of this is needed. ... only yesterday a young man died of a drug overdose in Dunclug area of Ballymena.

[wise_old_owl]

MARTINA YOUR TIME IN PRISION OBVIOUSLY DID YOU GOOD

[merle haggard]

Dearie dearie me what a timely intercession on behalf of Martina Anderson and PSF by the PSNI following Martina Andersons statement earlier in the week .

A DERRY MLA is refusing to rule out taking part in pickets outside the homes of suspected drug dealers across the city.
Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson spoke out after hardline republicans in Derry revealed they were planning to stage protest marches and demonstrations at the homes of alleged pushers

A spokesperson for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (CSM) told the ‘Journal’ it aims to make a “proactive response” to the growing drug problem in Derry.

Ms Anderson, who is a member of the North’s Policing Board, says she hopes pickets and protest marches won’t be necessary - but argues that such tactics have proved successful in other areas.

“The reality is that the social fabric of our communities are being torn apart by drugs,” she said. “I have been approached by families who are concerned about the scourge of drug dealers and we would support them in exposing those drug dealers to the community.

“Pickets are an option but I would hope that there are other steps we can take as a community before we get to that point. I am not ruling out that kind of action but other avenues should be explored before this. I would hope that we don’t need to go to people’s doors. I wouldn’t say that type of action is totally wrong and ultimately it was something that was successful in other areas,” she said.

The Policing Board member added that many people in the republican and nationalist community aren’t convinced the PSNI are willing to tackle the drug problem.

“Many people feel the PSNI have not displayed willingness to deal with drug dealers in our areas and there is a feeling of abandonment which we have to address and part of my work on the Policing Board is to do just that. There is a role for the PSNI and I would appeal for anyone with information on the peddlers of these poisonous substances to pass it on,” she said.

Cocaine ‘explosion’

Earlier this week, the the 32 CSM in the city warned of an “explosion” of cocaine use in Derry.

“People living in communities across Derry are sick, sore and tired of drug dealers operating openly in their communities and they have had enough of it,” said a spokesperson. “A community response is needed to tackle this problem. The Sovereignty Movement is looking at ways to respond to this and we are not ruling anything out. Marches and pickets at the doors of drug dealers is one option and if the local communities tell us this is what they want to do, then we will be there to support them.

“This is an issue for communities across the city and, if they want to stand up to drug dealers in this way, then the Sovereignty movement will back them 100 per cent.”


who says theres never a peeler about when you need one ?

[wise_old_owl]

Any news on Columba Mc Veigh

[Ciaran]

Holy God, republicans threaten to take some form of action against drug dealers, Martina Complains and the peelers move in? People in the area are not stupid.

[factual]

Holy God, republicans threaten to take some form of action against drug dealers, Martina Complains and the peelers move in? People in the area are not stupid.

Isn't that what Policing Board peope are for? Making sure the police do their job. Shows that all of this is working.

[Ciaran]

You're not that ************************************g naive Factual, surely.

[Starry Plough]

Fair play to the 32csm for deciding to take some sort of community led activity against the drugs problem, the Dublin anti-drug movement of the eighties and early ninties shows its the community which can only make a resonable impact on this issue. When left to the state and its aparatus the working class get forgotten.

[Seamus]

The drugs problem is above social classes and politics at this stage when drug use is all over the island whether its urban or rural etc.
Needless to say that the branch are more keen to harass us than the drug dealers but thats another future thread.

[factual]

Agree on the seriousness of the drugs issue. This weekend a young man in a working class area of the north died of an overdose:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6920439.stm