Project aims to fight intimidation by drug dealers
The scheme is being operated by the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) in conjunction with the Family Support Network (FSN), which represents families of drug users.
The National Drugs Strategy (NDS) 2009-2016 set the issue of intimidation as a key new action.
The NDS said the intimidation – often over debts of a family member to dealers – took the form of threats, property damage and physical violence.
It had “severe consequences” on both families and communities, who were terrified to talk to gardaí.
Research published by the FSN in June 2009, revealed how families were suffering verbal threats and both physical and sexual violence.
Parents were taking out loans of up to €60,000 to pay off dealers. A recent conference heard that whole communities were being intimidated by drug gangs.
“We know a huge amount of families are suffering in silence,” said Sadie Grace of FSN.
She said, as it stood, families were getting different responses if they went to a garda station for help.
“Some gardaí say to pay the debts, some say not to, others don’t want to get involved, so families don’t know what to do.”
She said she hoped the pilot would bring greater consistency and uniformity.
Detective Superintendent Michael O’Sullivan of the GNDU said the pilot would operate in Dublin for up to six months.
“We will review it and hopefully roll it out across the country,” he said.
Cases of intimidation involving families will be fed to the GNDU from the FSN and then passed on.
Det Supt O’Sullivan said the Assistant Commissioner for Dublin, Mick Feehan, has appointed a designated inspector in each of the six divisions in Dublin.
“This inspector will be the single point of contact for families. Depending on the nature of the case, he will deal with the issue himself or he may refer it to someone at district level.”
He cautioned that the project will not be “a silver bullet” to stop intimidation, a point taken up by Ms Grace: “Families may think gardaí are going to fix it and the drug dealer won’t intimidate them any more. That’s not necessarily going to happen.”
She said gardaí needed training to understand what families are going through. She also said a lot of “healing” was needed between communities and gardaí.
Ms Grace said the FSN was only reaching a small percentage of families and urged others to contact the FSN, which has up to 80 affiliated groups across the country.
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