Plan to help combat intimidation of drug gangs

FAMILIES and gardaí will meet next week to begin drawing up a plan to combat intimidation of communities by drug gangs.

Tackling the scourge of intimidation is a key new action in the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) 2009-2016, launched yesterday by Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

The NDS said the intimidation of families – often over debts of a family member to dealers – took the form of threats, property damage and physical violence. It was having “severe consequences” on both families and communities, who were terrified to talk to gardaí.