NCJ Number
191913
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: Autumn 2001 Pages: 738-745
Date Published
2001
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on an evaluation of the impact of a targeted police drug enforcement effort in London, England.
Abstract
Operation Crackdown was a time-limited, concentrated Metropolitan Police operation that targeted drug dealers across 10 London boroughs. It began in London on November 20, 2000; and within the first 14 days of the operation, more than 241 people had been arrested; and drugs (including heroin, crack cocaine, and cannabis) with an estimated street value of 1.5 million pounds had been recovered, including 50 kilos of cannabis in Lambeth. The evaluation of the impact of this operation focused on reductions in drug availability, changes in price, and the overall displacement of local drug markets, both in areas geographically covered by the operation as well as those just outside these areas. Interviews were conducted with 174 current drug users 2 weeks after the start of the series of coordinated drug raids. The study sample was recruited as they accessed treatment services in South London to ensure that the sample consisted both of users living in areas directly affected by the operation as well as other subjects from areas just outside of the targeted areas. The sample was queried about drug price, availability, and purity. Only seven users reported price increases for any drug, with the majority stating that there had been no change in any market features. This basic pattern was not influenced by whether the users were aware of the operation, whether they lived in the areas directly affected, or by the number of different dealers they used to purchase their drugs. Paradoxically, any perceived changes were more likely to be improvements in the market than deterioration (i.e., lower price, greater availability, and higher levels of purity). 3 tables and 7 references