The Commissioner has set up a scrutiny programme to hold Derbyshire Constabulary to account and provide the public with assurances around its performance.
There will be 6 of these Public Assurance Meetings each year, with each meeting shining a spotlight on one of the Commissioner’s six priorities to establish progress and identify any areas of concern in the Constabulary’s performance.
Firstly, the Chief Constable is required to provide the Commissioner with a formal written report detailing achievements and actions within the six priority areas, to be reviewed and scrutinised and subsequently published on the OPCC website.
Secondly, the Commissioner then also holds a Q and A session with the Chief Constable to highlight areas of concern raised by residents of Derbyshire.
Below, you will see both Part One: The Formal Report and Part Two: The Discussion around the priority area and the Q&A Session.
Part One
The Formal Report submitted for this PAM is available to view.
Part Two
Public Questions
There were 24 questions submitted from the public on Drug Dealing and Substance Misuse. Some are being answered via our casework process and will be answered outside of this Public Assurance Meeting.
Enforcement and Reporting
1, Where do you stand on a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, including the use of undercover officers in bars & pubs? Bolsover
Police Response
Full details of the force’s response to drug dealing and substance misuse can be found on the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner website, Public Information, Public Assurance Meetings, Drug Dealing and Substance Misuse.
To add to the above the force can apply discretion on outcomes for those found with drugs in certain cases based on a number of factors. This allows us to use out of court resolution whereby individuals can be referred to a variety of pathways to receive support, understand the consequences of their actions, working alongside partner agencies to achieve this. This is preventative rather than punitive.
Any covert tactics that are considered or deployed have to go through a rigorous process for authority and need to be proportionate and necessary and in the interest of public safety.
2, I would like to know if Derbyshire police are tackling gang violence and drug use on our streets? North East
Police Response
The force has a North and South OCG (Organised Crime Group) team. The team’s role is to develop intelligence and exploit opportunities of enforcement against OCG’s (gangs) within Derbyshire. They do this both in the traditional sense of pursuing gangs in relation to drug dealing, firearms and gang violence, but also by way of multi-agency work to prevent people becoming involved in gang related criminal activity and protecting those at risk of exploitation by gangs. So both a pursue element and a preventative element to their work.
The Multi Agency Disruption Team (MADT) is a Divisional resource that sits alongside the Organised Crime Group Unit and, in conjunction with partner agencies, works to prevent individuals from engaging in Serious and Organised Crime, increase community protection and reduce the impact of Serious and Organised Crime.
We have a close working relationship with Probation to aid the disruption of nominals that are subject to licence conditions. Liaising with the Prison Service and Probation prior to an offender’s release, helps to secure appropriate and bespoke conditions for the possibility of temporary release, and licenced releases. We can suggest relevant licence conditions, advising on non-associations and exclusion zones to assist in aiding monitoring. This subsequently supports both preventing reoffending and helps disrupt criminality.
3, Drug driving in the High Peak is reaching epidemic proportions. There is little, if any Roads Policing tackling the problem in our area. We’re paying more money for a non-existent service. Other regions of the county are much better served. This comes from someone within the unit. It occurs with impunity. High Peak
Police Response
We run Operation Cruiser in the High Peak which provides dedicated patrols based on both targeting data and complaint data, with dedicated speed sites and specific individuals for officers to target. In 2024 we saw over 600 hrs of activity, 150 of which were on speed sites. 500 vehicles were stopped with 375 receiving some form of sanction for speeding. Additionally, a further 234 offences were identified ranging from no insurance all the way to condition and use offences. Additionally, the area also benefitted from over 30,000 miles of high visibility patrols from the motorcycle officers. This area also has a single point of contact on each shift.
4, Why are drugs so prevalent.?? And everyone knows the names of the dealers, but the police doesn’t seem to act the smell of cannabis is everywhere on the streets and town centres. I even smell cannabis coming from passing cars. The police pass information to local housing authorities who in turn pass information to tenants in a soft easy approach to drug enforcement. This has to be addressed. Chesterfield
Police Response
Full details of the force’s response to drug dealing and substance misuse can be found on the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner website, Public Information, Public Assurance Meetings, Drug Dealing and Substance Misuse.
5, What is the Chief Constable’s solution to drug dealing and substance misuse? And are there any plans to change the way the Force deals with drug users and offenders? Derby City
Police Response
Full details of the force’s response to drug dealing and substance misuse can be found on the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner website, Public Information, Public Assurance Meetings, Drug Dealing and Substance Misuse.
6, Are the police struggling to combat people smoking weed around Bolsover? Is it funding, time or priorities? Bolsover
Police Response
Cannabis is a societal issue nationally and is more widespread and available than it ever has been previously. Locally intelligence led stop searches are conducted where appropriate and intelligence is also gathered regarding wider issues involving cannabis and actioned appropriately, including the use of warrants. We also work closely with partners such as Bolsover District Council when cannabis use and ASB crossover. The police in Bolsover work to address this issue, as they do across rhe force, as detailed in the report associated with this meeting.
If the member of public asking this question has any more information or intelligence, they want to pass around this as an issue in Bolsover then they can liaise with (T/Insp 14599 Brown) or the local Safer Neighbourhood Team.
7, What are the police doing to tackle the associated problems of drug dealing like theft, violence and anti-social behaviour. I class alcohol as an problem amongst young people it is a drug perhaps far worse in terms of it’s damaging effect throughout society. Erewash
Police Response
Drug dealing and alcohol misuse feature in a number of our local priorities within our Safer Neighbourhood Teams. This means that additional patrols take place and stop and search powers are utilised in respect of local intelligence and calls received.
The Force has also introduced Drug Testing on Arrest (DToA ). DToA is a police power that can test for the presence of Class A drugs on arrest, for individuals aged 18 and over, and after charge, for individuals aged 14 and over following the committal of a trigger offence, or with Inspector or above authority following the committal of any offence. Following a positive test, police can refer individuals to an assessment to identify any need for treatment or support such as counselling. During this assessment, the decision to refer to treatment is undertaken by a qualified drug support worker to ensure those for whom treatment or other support would be beneficial are referred to the appropriate services.
Some areas affected by drugs and alcohol have PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order) in place to ensure that we can effectively tackle these issues working with the local authority. This allows authorities to address anti-social behaviour by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), which can be enforced by Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), or District Council Enforcement staff.
The force will also be recruiting a further 35 officers to bolster its Safer Neighbourhood Teams to respond to the issues that have been raised amongst the local community.
8, How do we report drug taking and antisocial behaviour? Our area has tried raising reports online 101 and ringing police but nothing gets done. Derby City
Police Response
You can report drug taking and antisocial behaviour (ASB) to Derbyshire Police through several methods:
- Online Reporting Tool: use the https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb-v3/report-antisocial-behaviour/ to report ASB incidents
- Live: Chat: Access the live chat feature on the Derbyshire Police Website for real-time assistance.
- Phone: Call the non-emergency number 101 to report incidents.
- Social Media: Send a private message on Facebook or a direct message on Twitter to the Derbyshire Police contact centre.
- Crimestoppers: If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111
The information is then used to inform where police and partnership activity should take place.
9, There is increasing drug use often in broad daylight in both kings Newton and Melbourne and yet there is very little police presence is this a deliberate policy? South Derbyshire
Police Response
At South Derbyshire Local Policing Unit we continue to progress and execute a number of warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Over the past couple of months our officers, including our Local Neighbourhood Team and our Intelligence Officer have executed a number of warrants with some positive results. We have further warrants planned in the near future. These warrants have included the supply of Class A and Class B controlled drugs and the cultivation of Cannabis.
We take the submission of intelligence of the use of drugs and drug dealing seriously and continue to encourage the community to report on so that we can continue to proactively disrupt the supply and cultivation of drugs.
10, There is a house on my street that quite often smells of marijuana, the street literally stinks of it at times. They live in a council house which is maintained by Derby homes as I have often seen their staff visiting their property. People are often coming and going even late at night sometimes, which seems suspicious. They tend to have loud gatherings (especially in summer) and they openly smoke marijuana for all neighbours to see, but everyone is too scared to say anything to them. So my question is how can these people brazenly smoke and keep illegal drugs on their council house without consequences? I have seen the police there maybe once before, but I know social services were visiting on a regular basis. Yet with all this local authority involvement these people just continue to do what they want. The one time I reported antisocial behaviour, not too long after my house my house was targeted with antisocial behaviour, so I have never reported anything again. Derby City
Police Response
Possession of cannabis remains an offence and police work with relevant housing providers to address the anti-social use of drugs. Where illegal substances are not found present on police attendance, the gathering of evidence and collation of intelligence can be utilised by the housing providers to issue community protection warnings and notices or invoke the conditions of tenancies.
I would ask that the author of this question contacts the housing provider or the relevant Safer Neighbourhood Team, so that partner agencies can be fully informed and work together to address the anti-social behaviour. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111
11, Why aren’t there more stops and test for cars, many drivers especially early in the mornings smoke weed on the way to work, you can smell it from cars going past. High Peak
Police Response
Drug driving is a key focus for Roads Policing as it is one of the Fatal Four offences. (Speeding, Mobile Phones, Drink and Drug Driving and No Seatbelts) These offences are targeted nationally and are part of the core role of all of Roads Policing.
We run dedicated operations year-round targeting all of the Fatal Four offences. During 2024 we identified over 60,000 offences. 5,000 of which were Drink or Drug tests with almost over 1,100 positive results which equates to almost 100 prisoners per month. These are 24hrs a day and checks will continue to identify and arrest any breaches of the law.
12, We live near to an Action Housing HMO, where the residents regularly stand at the boundary to smoke weed etc. The Police have been notified, but the best they can offer is to ask that the perpetrators move further away. If the Police are confiscating e-scooters and issuing fines, why are they not at least doing similar with illegal substances? Chesterfield
Police Response
Tackling the misuse of drugs and anti-social behaviour within our communities is a priority for the force.
Cannabis is illegal to possess and any such report to the police will be taken seriously. Our officers work closely with partners to address these issues and will take appropriate enforcement action against identified offenders. Victims who are experiencing neighbour related issues are encouraged to speak to their local safer neighbourhood team who will be able to offer relevant advice and support to address these issues for the long term.
13, Why are there not stricter measures when people have been caught stealing to fund their habits. Some sentences state people are not allowed in town A, yet they are seen walking through the town on a regular basis claiming they are going to an appointment (when I have phoned to report). These appointments can be reached from going another way around, there is no need to be in the town centres at all. We are all trying our best (my local police in Buxton are amazing) to report as much as we can, but feel we are being let down with the consequences they receive. Another example is of another theft with an assault bring fobbed off that they are vulnerable and been sent away from the situation to them returning within a few weeks trying to steal yet again. It really needs addressing otherwise what’s the point in reporting anything either where the drug deals are going on or the drug users thieving all the time. High Peak
Police Response
The police have a role to gather evidence and present to the CPS for a charging decision. The sanction at court is under the direction of the Judiciary and not the police.
14, Please could you outline what actions are being taken to address cannabis smoking by groups, in Sandiacre around Doncaster Avenue and the park. Local children have been unable to use the basketball court due to being intimidated by these groups. Erewash
Police Response
Sandiacre has a dedicated Police Officer and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who form part of the Long Eaton Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT).
SNT officers are aware that a small group of youths have previously caused ASB in the area and have taken positive action to reduce this. Examples include ASB letters being issued and Immediate Justice outcome whereby offenders repay harm caused to communities by completing reparative work.
As part of their routine patrols, SNT officers conduct regular patrols at various times of the day and evening. This is supported by the Erewash Youth Engagement Team and Response Team.
SNT officers have been liaising with partner agencies, including the local Parish Council, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and Erewash Borough Council to reduce the impact of ASB in the area.
SNT and the Youth Engagement Team have regular contact with local children on the park and visit both Friesland School and Cloudside School.
No issues have previously been raised regarding children not using the basketball court due to being intimidated. We encourage members of the public to report ASB / drugs activity, so that we have an accurate picture of the concerns impacting the local community. This enables us to conduct a more effective targeted enforcement.
You can report ASB online or via 101. The team have a Facebook and twitter page where residents can contact us and follow our engagements. The contact details for the local SNT can be found on your area within the Derbyshire Constabulary website Home | Derbyshire Constabulary
We also have a community a messaging service which provides information about the local area. To sign up visit Home Page – Derbyshire Alert .
15, I have a question regarding Police policy on Nitrous Oxide (NOS/N2O) abuse. We had an issue a couple of years ago where one of the apartments in our complex was used as a base for drug dealing, since successfully prosecuted and shut down by the Police. However, during that time, a car was parked outside the apartments with 4 young men stopping girls on the Brampton Mile pub crawl and inviting them into the car. They were openly inflating balloons from small silver capsules, which they discarded in the street, then inhaled and made a point of persuading several girls into the back of their car for this over a period of a couple of hours. The car even had a personalised registration advertising nitrous oxide (R333 NOS), NOS being the recognised abbreviation for nitrous oxide. I was primarily concerned that this could be a gateway for the drug operations, but not a 999 emergency, so phoned 101 to report this. However, I felt the call centre agent dismissed the concerns – they actually suggested that they could just be celebrating a birthday with party balloons, Nothing happened until the next morning when a PCSO visited and saw all the discarded NOS containers, by which time the guys were long gone. I felt the police had not taken the report seriously and missed an opportunity. So, my question: What is the police policy on NOS abuse, and what steps have been taken to ensure reports of NOS dealing are taken seriously and actioned? Chesterfield
Police Response
Nitrous Oxide is now a controlled drug and should be dealt with as any other. The offence occurs when a person is in physical possession (or in control) of a controlled drug. This is more difficult to evidence if the drug has already been used.
16, Why can’t you report drug dealing on the police report site, I’ve had to use Crimestoppers. Bolsover
Police Response
Officers are committed to tackling drug related issues within Derbyshire and we welcome any information you may have about drug use or dealing.
This information needs to be passed onto your local police force via their non-emergency number 101, by online reporting mechanisms or through Crimestoppers.
Derbyshire Police online reporting does not specifically list drugs as an option for reporting however does give options to report a crime, anti-social behaviour or to report something else (under tell us about something you’ve seen or heard).
17, I feel there is still not enough arrests are being done to tackle the problems on Fairfield road Buxton as it still is very alive you have boarded up 4 properties on the main road yet they just move along to other flats I drive past nearly every night along that road and you can just see them all on corners still dealing in some kind off drugs I feel there should me more undercover patrols watching this area and a lot more arrests it’s so obviously seen by general public we need stronger targeting to that area. High Peak
Police Response
We have been working very closely with our colleagues at High Peak Borough Council to tackle the multiple issues on Fairfield Road. This is part of Project Unity.
Since the closure we have also been working very closely with the housing provider and the council to improve standards which has resulted in a reduction in the calls for service at this location.
The council is also taking action against the property provider to ensure the damaged window is repaired. This is part of a large piece of work to improve that part of the town for visitors and residents. We are also installing a CCTV camera, improving the park area and issued improvement notices to a number of the properties on Fairfield Road.
In addition to all the work we are continuing to do if you have any specific information or witness a crime, please call 101 or 999 if life is at risk so that we can deal with the issue real time.
18, Why are the hot spots in Ripley still hot stops? Amber Valley
Police Response
Apologies but it is unclear what this specifically relates to and therefore unable to answer the question.
19, Do you support decriminalization of substance misuse as a way reducing both drug addiction and drug-related crime? Derbyshire Dales
Police Response
The force is bound to act within the legislation provided by the Government at that time.
20, I have spoken to regional Police Officers to this area of the High Peak regarding witnessing deals and exchanges of drugs in full view in and around Whaley Bridge, from open use in public houses, public parks and regularly used sites, including the garages at the top of Elnor Lane and Reservoir Road in the town, in the past decade, I have not seen any evidence of any police activity in these areas and the persistence of this form of activity continues. High Peak
Police Response
PC Jake Schofield and PCSO Karen Green are the dedicated SNT officers for the Whaley Bridge area. Their patrol strategy targets locations, vehicles and people involved in drug activity and will be adapted based on the intelligence that is provided by the community. Some of the areas mentioned are part of this patrol strategy and when they have attended, nothing was found on those occasions. Since October 2024, there have been three crimes recorded in Whaley Bridge for drug offences, including one which was a proactive stop search. The resident is encouraged to contact PC Schofield via email or 101 to provide further details. If they wish to remain anonymous, they can also use Crime Stoppers.
21, I wondered if there is anything in the National curriculum to educate and warn children from an early age about the dangers of drugs please. Derbyshire Dales
Police Response
Full details of the force’s response to drug dealing and substance misuse can be found on the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner website, Public Information, Public Assurance Meetings, Drug Dealing and Substance Misuse. The force are unable to comment on matters relating to the National Curriculum, however our Youth Engagement Officers will soon be delivering inputs on this topic (please see the response to question 23).
22, How will you work with local authorities to reduce drug dependency, and subsequently drug crime? Also, is the cannabis consumption in Derby a problem for you? If so what do you recommend to do about it? Derby City
Police Response
The negative effects of drugs and alcohol to both the individual and wider society are well documented. The Government’s 10-year strategy, From Harm to Hope, launched in 2021, is intended to reverse this trend. Locally, the Drug and Alcohol Strategic Partnership (DASP) is responsible for setting the priority areas for action that will ensure that: harm and deaths from drugs and alcohol are reduced; drug and alcohol use is reduced, and drug related crime is reduced.
A wide range of initiatives have been developed and embedded as a result of the DASP which are reported back to the Government as part of the outcomes framework that sits alongside the strategy. These initiatives include the introduction of Drug Testing on Arrest and police carriage of Naloxone.
Cannabis is a commonly used drug across the County and not specific to Derby.
23, As a school liaison officer, who spent many hours educating students re substance and alcohol abuse, could you tell me what, if any, input there is now to secondary and primary school pupils? Chesterfield
Police Response
School children currently receive inputs from specialist drug and alcohol workers rather than Youth Engagement Officers and this has been the case for several years. However, feedback from our Youth Engagement Teams and the sheer number of requests from schools on this topic has brought about a need to review this stance. This has resulted in the development of a session which will be delivered to children of a secondary school age by Youth Engagement Officers. The team are currently gathering information from partners and ensuring a robust process and safeguarding is place in relation to these inputs and that training for the officers involved will have taken place prior to schools being made aware. The aim is to start rolling out these sessions in September 2025.
24, What is the best way to obtain feedback and reassurance on reports we have made on ongoing drug activity locally? We have been promised feedback, but never received any. North East
Police Response
The best way to obtain feedback and reassurance on reports that have been made is to ascertain the details of those on the local Safer Neighbourhood Team by utilising this link Your area | Derbyshire Constabulary. This will take you to the relevant area of Derbyshire and list the relevant supervision, PCs and PCSOs that cover that area on the Safer Neighbourhood Team.
With this information you can then use this link Request an update | Derbyshire Constabulary outlining the issue and relevant local officer, who will in due course make contact with you regarding your query.