Police started National Tackling Drugs Week today by thanking people for the part they have played in recovering more than £3.6m in proceeds of crime across the Thames Valley in the past year.

Force Drugs Co-ordinator Dr Shona Morrison states “Research confirms that drug traffickers and dealers are more concerned about losing ill-gotten gains than they are about receiving a prison term.

“We have increased the number of financial investigators in the force to ensure that those who expect to benefit financially from crime are thoroughly disappointed.”

Of the £3.6m recovered by Thames Valley Police, £1.7m was seized as part of Operation Falcon, which aims to tackle drugs and drug-related crime. The force attributes its success to the help received from the public and partner organisations.

Acting Detective Sergeant Nick Bell, of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “Public intelligence is the lifeblood our efforts. We would like to use National Tackling Drugs Week to emphasise the crucial role that information provided by the public plays in bringing drug dealers to justice.”

Dr Morrison said: “Information from the community is essential to bring drug offenders to justice, to prevent them from continuing to benefit from drug dealing and to remove them as role models to other young people.”

“We have joined forces with organizations such as Crimestoppers to encourage the public to report crime anonymously. Those who are clearly living above any legitimate means of support may be acquiring their wealth through the proceeds of crime. We need the public to help us identify such offenders by adopting campaigns such as ‘Too Much Bling’.”

Crimestoppers is asking for members of the public to pass on any information they may have about people they suspect of living off the proceeds of crime by telephoning 0800 555 111 or via an online form on www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Both methods are completely anonymous; names are not taken, calls are not traced or recorded and people do not have to go to court.

To report any information about drug dealing and related crime call Thames Valley Police 0845 8 505 505