Tipperary Gardai stress the importance of drug related intimidation reporting

Inspector James White of Thurles Garda Station is the newly nominated inspector for the Tipperary division of the drug related intimidation task force. In the recent JPC meeting, Inspector White stressed the importance of drug related intimidation reporting.

He said: “Drugs remain to be an increasingly significant issue when it comes to our towns and villages here in Tipperary. One area that I personally look after is how drug dealers use intimidation on drug users and their families to repay debt.”

“Types of intimidation vary on a wide scale, they include threats of physical violence, damage to family homes or property and even sexual violence.”

“These debts are not like those you might incur with a bank, the interest on them is often up to quadruple the original value.”

He continued: “I want to urge people to not pay these debts, report them to the Gardai and let us help you. A nominated inspector can be contacted directly through any division and we will provide you with practical safety, advice and any other appropriate support to keep you safe.”

“At the moment it is a definite minority that has the strength to contact us. Families are getting family members out of debt by taking out credit union loans or finding the money elsewhere and even in some cases, working for drug dealers themselves to bring their debt down.”

“Paying these debts is not helping us to catch these criminals and in doing so the cycle is only being enabled to continue. Drug related intimidation transcends all social classes at this stage so you cannot rule your family out, anyone can become a victim. When you hear these stories of people being threatened, please don’t be afraid to speak out. If you do, you will be met by a nominated Inspector at a neutral venue, we will wear plain clothes and a non Garda vehicle will be used to ensure complete anonymity.”

Contact details of support workers can be provided by the Family Support Network.