£6,000 Chard drugs haul (From Chard & Ilminster News)

£6,000 Chard drugs haul

8:21am Wednesday 6th December 2006 in Chard By News reporter

POLICE have praised the public after a substance - believed to to be heroin worth £6,000 - was seized in Chard on Saturday.

Acting on tip-offs from the public, officers stopped a car in the Mitchell Gardens area just after midday.

Two women in their early 30s were arrested and a substance thought to be heroin was seized.

The women are currently on bail pending further inquiries, and now police are encouraging residents and drug users to come forward.

Chard beat manager Bill Geddes said: "It's a significant seizure. On a regular basis the public supply us with useful information which is greatly appreciated.

"Saturday is another example that we do act on that information, and every bit of information is treated in the strictest confidence and with equal importance.

"Even a small bit of information someone may think isn't of interest may be the missing piece of the jigsaw we need.

"We thank the members of the public and the community as a whole for that information."

The scale of the haul means officers are concerned about the impact on drug users in the town. PC Geddes said: "Because of this seizure there could be a vacuum in the availability of this substance.

"We would like to say to drug users that, if this is a time when they need help, to contact their GP or Turning Point.

"If they would like to speak to a police officer as a point of initial contact in total confidence they can speak to me or PC Pete Crofts at Chard police station.

"Any information they give us will be treated in the strictest confidence."

PC Geddes said that officers had been working in partnership with the Somerset Drugs Action Team.

n You can call Chard police station on 0845-4567000 or the Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800-555111.

The number for the drug support service Turning Point is 01935-471826.