Long
established criminal subculture including petty and organised crime.
Prevalence and pattern of drug use: Significant heroin use
among white resident group for some years. Now spreading, along with
crack cocaine, to ethnic minority population.
Police activity: Periodic intense interventions
Sub markets: Previously open market dispersed into a number
of sub markets.
Sellers: Sub markets largely structured according to drug of
choice and ethnic minority of users. Largely from the area and well
known to buyers
Buyers: Long term residents of the area.
Transaction method(s): Meeting place, time and type of
transaction largely arranged by mobile phone. Busy streets
allow transactions to take place mainly in public meeting places. A
few home deliveries. Buyers on the whole trust the sellers.
Transactions take place quickly. Organised sellers maintain a
24 hour service every day.