Police warn drug dealers

And the Constabulary's own newspaper, Context, this month gives a rare insight into the conviction of one notorious Blackpool drug dealer.

An article by Context editor Brian Caven tells of the chase and final conviction of 33-year-old Stephen Neaves for a variety of drug offences and the frustration and complexities faced by police officers involved in the case.

Mr Neaves's conviction in October, 2001, was the culmination of countless months of often frustrating investigations involving the combined resources of the Major Crime Unit (MCU), the Force Surveillance Unit and Western Division detectives.

Brian Caven's report said: "The arrogant Neaves openly boasted that he was 'untouchable' -- even sometimes in the presence of officers.

"He had appeared to 'learn and adapt' from techniques used against him and even when Neaves was charged with the offences that eventually led to his imprisonment, successful bail applications in chambers allowed him the freedom to continue to ply his lethal trade for a further 14 months before he was sent down."

Detective Inspector Eddy Thistlewaite, of Blackpool police, said: "The case of Neaves involved a three or four-year operation and after two or three years Neaves began to think he was beyond the law. He believed he could continue to furnish his lavish lifestyle through selling drugs.

"He was eventually found guilty and given a hefty 10-year prison sentence."

"The message is that the police will continue in the Western Division to target street-level crime, especially crack cocaine and heroin. We are also doing much work with the medical profession at the moment to try and break the cycle of users having to seek out such drug dealers."

Detective Constable Ian Szerlowski of the MCU commented: "A result like this does great things for police morale especially when the offender has proved so arrogantly elusive. A message has gone out to the drugs fraternity that nobody is invulnerable."