Police Deny Drug Dealers Being 'Protected'

There are no police officers ‘protecting’ Belfast drug dealers because they are providing information.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said sources were handled in accordance with the strictest national guidelines and were therefore not above the law.

Mr McCausland was responding to claims that drug dealers were not arrested because they were acting as informers.

His comments came after the funeral of a north Belfast teenager who killed himself after overdosing on drugs.

Dean Clarke, 16, from the Tigers Bay area of north Belfast killed himself after overdosing on drugs.

He had spent almost a week in intensive care after taking ketamine tablets, which are used as horse tranquilisers, prior to his death.

The police was accused by evangelical Presbyterian minister Robert Beckett who said people were afraid as paramilitaries "remained untouched".

"While there have been a number of drug dealers put out of the area in recent days - for cases that are unrelated to the Clarke incident - the major drug dealer, who is supposed to be a leading figure in loyalist circles, remains untouched," he said.

However, Mr McCausland, speaking after meeting with the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the local District Policing Partnership, said those who engaged in criminality would be arrested and dealt with.

He said a full and active investigation was being carried out in relation to Dean Clarke's death.

"We will continue to tackle drug dealers, but we need the continued support of the community and other agencies to address the wider issues of drugs," he said.

"If people have information about drug-dealing in their area, we would strongly urge them to bring that evidence to police and we will act on it.

"We are determined to work with everyone in order to get the drug-dealers off the backs of the community, not just in north Belfast but right across Northern Ireland."

Mr McCausland said arrests for drug offences in north Belfast had risen by 80% this year, with an 172 additional people arrested.

Meanwhile, a north Belfast doctor said children as young as 12 have been treated for the effects of taking drugs.

Dr Sean Donnelly said the drugs ecstasy and diazepam were easily available on the streets.

See:Loyalist Drug Dealers Are "Scum" Says UPRG

(BMcC)