GAZETTE & HERALD: CALNE has seen a drop in thefts, violent crime and burglaries in the last five months, but drug-related crimes soared by 476 per cent over the same period.

Sergeant Nic Shorten told the town council last week that, while police were making a dent in general crime, they were now re-focusing their attention once more on the battle against drug abuse.

Sgt Shorten said that while the figures themselves remain quite low, drug-related offences rose from three to 25 between April and August and are testament to the drug problem being ever-present in the town.

"The drug problem is ever present amongst every town in the country and is one that needs constant attention from all sectors of the community and support services if we are ever to regain the lost ground," he said.

Sgt Shorten's revelation followed news in July that Wiltshire Police recorded a 24.2 per cent increase in drug arrests across the district from March 2003 to April 2004.

Reach Out, which runs a drop-in centre for drug users and their families and carers at The Baptist Church in Castle Street, Calne, said it had also seen the number of people using the centre rise in the last three months.

Organiser Julie Franklin said: "I don't want people to think that this is due to drugs spiralling out of control.

"I believe this is a positive sign that people are getting help for their problems."

Reach Out offers help and advice to people of all ages, but deals

predominantly with young addicts.

Mrs Franklin said that when the centre started out in Calne in 2001, the

majority of drug users had problems with heroin, but that has now grown

to include alcohol and cannabis as well.

"We have the same goal as the police in wanting to make Calne a safer

place and to reduce the incidences of drug crime," she said.

"And I would guess that the increase in crime is the result of more

people coming forward and reporting it."

Coun Cathy Bowyer asked Sgt Shorten how the police would be tackling drug crime and whether shock tactics could be used in schools. Sgt Shorten said that shock tactics would be given "active consideration."

He also said that a second police community support officer is expected to soon join the town's first PCSO Gareth Milne.

Coun Mercy Baggs, who helps to run the town's youth drop-in centre, said: "It's great to see the police coming into the drop-in centre and the children are now recognising them on the streets as well," she said.

Calne has seen an 11 per cent decrease in reported crime over the year while attaining a 27 per cent detection level. Violent crime has dropped by eight per cent and burglaries from buildings had dropped 44 per cent.

Theft is also down 12 per cent and criminal damage has dropped by 14 per cent. The report added that the police hope to keep up the momentum.