Local Priorities Drugs and related issues Message

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Drugs and related issues, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

On Wednesday 29th July Lisburn City NPT were on patrol when a member of the public alerted them to suspicious behaviour at an address in Lisburn City Centre. Upon entering the address a disturbance was witnessed by police with 3 persons arrested for Grievous Bodily Harm as a result. Follow up searches then uncovered a substantial amount of Class A and Class B Drugs. Two suspects have been charged with these offences and will appear before the magistrate to face the consequences of their behaviour. The importance of reporting suspicious behaviour cannot be underestimated, while sometimes it may prove harmless, other times it may just assist in making our communities safer which has been the case in this report.

The illicit drugs market is big business, worth an estimated £9.4 billion a year and drug deaths have reached an all-time. Taking the health harms, costs of crime and wider impacts on society together, it is estimated the total costs of drugs to society are over £19 billion, which is more than twice the value of the market itself.

It's illegal:

• to have or own drugs
• to supply anyone with drugs
• to make drugs
• to import or export drugs

It's also illegal to allow premises you own, rent, use or occupy to be used for any drug-related activity.

If you are found with drugs near a school, youth facility or location where young people formally meet, the courts will treat this as an aggravating issue can impose higher penalties

If you are adversely affected by antisocial behaviour in your community associated with drug use, please report to Police. For non-emergency reports contact 101 or the Non-Emergency Online Reporting Form. In an emergency dial 999. Information can be passed on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers via this link or on Freephone 0800 555 111. 

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved and contribute to the local priority survey, we may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you.

Please click here to complete the survey