IT can be easy to think of the war on drugs as a problem for big cities such as Glasgow and London, rather than the often quiet residential streets of Renfrewshire.
But, for Inspector Jim Cast, the war begins at home.
The Renfrew-based cop is a man on a mission to rid local streets of the misery that drugs bring to communities.
READ MORE: Pills seized in Johnstone drug raid
He spoke to The Gazette yesterday, just hours after officers staged an early morning raid in Bute Drive, Johnstone, to stress his commitment to clamping down on the drugs menace.
“We pursue anyone we think might be dealing drugs and we are prepared to act on every single piece of intelligence,” he declared.
Yesterday’s raid provided the rudest of awakenings for three men in the Bute Drive property.
Officers stormed their way inside, acting on intelligence fed to them by the public.
It proved to be a useful tip.
The trio were allegedly found to be in possession of cannabis, cocaine and a three-figure sum of cash.
They were arrested yesterday afternoon on suspicion of supplying drugs.
The raid was one of several carried out by Inspector Cast’s finest over the past week as he backs up his pledge to make the war on drugs his number one priority.
On Friday, The Gazette joined officers on a dawn raid at a flat in Johnstone’s Greenend Avenue, where a quantity of suspicious pills were seized and sent off for forensic analysis.
Shouts of “Police, police” filled the air as a small squad of officers wearing riot gear smashed in the front door.
As the drama unfolded, eyes peered through gaps in blinds at windows in neighbouring properties as interested spectators looked on.
Letting the public see his team in action is one of Inspector Cast’s tactics, as he believes more visibility will inevitably lead to more help from the public.
He said: “For me, it was a positive outcome. It lets people know we are in the area and we are dealing with the issue.
“We are keeping the drugs out of the hands of young people.
“You can have several weeks where things are quiet and then suddenly people see you in the area and they start to offer information.
“The more doors we go through, the more chance we have of getting help from the public and the more inclined people are to pick up the phone.
“If we stop being so visible, then things can go stagnant.
“People are under no obligation to give us any of their details. We aren’t going to pursue them or turn up at their door but we will definitely act on every single piece of information.
“We don’t publicise every single one because we are doing them so often. We do, however, pursue anyone we think might be dealing drugs.”
There are, of course, so many other types of crime being committed across Renfrewshire, so why is Inspector Cast, the area’s head of community policing, so keen to focus on drugs?
“Drugs lead to crime,” he insists. “If you can take out the supply of drugs in the area, it will have a positive impact on crime in the area.
“This is everyday business for us and we are doing one or two of these every single week in both Johnstone and Renfrew.
“It is not about how many drugs we seize, it is about taking them away from the local community and out of the hands of people who could be using them.
“We are especially concerned about ensuring we keep them away from children.
“It is something I would definitely push from my own perspective and based upon my own personal experience.
“If you allow someone to feel they can get away with dealing drugs, then they will undoubtedly become bolder and try to do even more.
“By doing more, they will bring even more criminals to the area.
“We have got to keep up our work and make sure dealers know we are going to be coming through their door.”
Yesterday’s raid was just one of several already carried out by Inspector Cast’s officers and, as he continues to work to ensure Johnstone, Renfrew and the villages are safer places to live, he warns he isn’t finished yet.
READ MORE: Renfrewswhire cop makes crackdown on drug dealers his ‘number one priority’
“We are going to be relentless and already have several raids planned for the coming weeks,” he added.
“If you are involved in drug dealing within Renfrewshire, I guarantee you will get a knock on the door from my officers.
“It could be anytime – day or night – but we will be coming through your door.”
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