Bracknell

The passive dog search team help tackle drugs Bracknell Forest Borough Council hosted an inaugural conference to help tackle the issues around drugs in the community.

Over 60 people from different Bracknell organisations attended South Hill Park this week (Monday November 21) for a conference about tackling drugs in the community.

The Bracknell Council hosted the first conference of its type for local partners including the police, fire service and housing associations to learn about how we can all work together to prevent the misuse of drugs in the community and learn about how to report and target areas of substance misuse.

The conference was opened by Timothy Wheadon, Chief Executive of Bracknell Forest Borough Council followed by a series of workshops and talks from the various agencies.

Presentations at the event included:

* How to identify drug issues and prevent them and the role of the drug enforcement team;
* Information exchange and working closely with partner agencies;
* CADIS - a mapping system for targeting areas where drugs have been reported;
* Drug treatment and the services available in Bracknell Forest.

Grosvenor International Services (GIS), who specialise in public venue door security, attended with a dog used around the area for passive drug searches. The dog's sensitive sense of smell was put to the test in demonstrations.

Bracknell Cllr Peter North, Executive Member for Emergency Services and Community Safety at Bracknell Forest Borough Council, said: "This joint conference is the first of its kind in the area and all the relevant agencies who help tackle drug issues were able to learn from one another about the best ways to work.

"Bracknell Forest has a low level of drug related issues and we must keep it that way. We'll be finetuning how we identify and map areas with drug issues and take enforcement action.

"The opening of New Hope in July has been a major asset in tackling substance misuse and drug related crime. The centre has already seen 142 people and drug related crime is reducing."

Bracknell Council officers from housing, trading standards and rangers as well as members of the tenant and leaseholder panel and the police attended the event to share information on how to keep substance misuse to a minimum in the area.

To report a drug related incident call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council ~ 22 November 2005