Dutch police helping Oswestry's GHB fight

An expert drug officer from the Dutch police has begun work with Oswestry officers to help tackle the town's GHB problem.

The partnership was launched as the detective leading the fight against the drug in Shropshire revealed there was a "dearth" in its supply in the town amid hopes a clampdown by police on the supply of the drug was having an effect.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards said it seemed the message was getting out that police in Shropshire were taking a zero tolerance policy.

And he added that police would continue using various tactics, including raids on homes, to cut the supply of the potentially lethal drug.

Mr Edwards said one of the tactics was a link-up with Amsterdam drugs officer Arjen Wakker to discuss ways to combat the problem.

Mr Wakker is working with West Mercia Police officers all this week to learn from the strategy they have been using to beat the drug menace in Oswestry, which has been highlighted as a national hotspot for the drug.

Mr Edwards said: "Having Arjen here is very useful for us because he has a huge knowledge of GHB.

"We can share our tactics with him and he is telling us how Dutch police are dealing with their problem.

"We are taking a pragmatic approach to the problem and that includes trying to get the message across to users to take the drug safely.

"People who take this drug can collapse into a coma, it is so dangerous.

"We have held drug raids and the message must be if we find out who is supplying it, we will come back again and get them.

"But at the moment the message seems to be getting across. My information is that there is a dearth of this drug because suppliers and dealers are aware of the police action. We must stress that Oswestry remains a very safe place to live and we can reassure people that our partnership approach is having an effect."

Mr Wakker said: "There is a rising problem in Holland with GHB. In 2004, 300 people were admitted to hospital because of the drug. That figure has now risen to 1,200.

"I heard about the success police in Oswestry were having with their tactics and have come to learn from them and share information."

By Iain St John