A Town Without a Drug Problem?

Investigative journalism

The population of Harpenden is just under 30,000 with low crime rates.

On reading the Hertfordshire police statistics for Sept 2016 there were only 237 offences and only three of those crimes were drug related.

Harpenden can therefore rest assured drugs are not a problem!

Back in 2006 there was a little blip where three pupils were expelled from St George's with a further 13 suspended for taking drugs out of school time.

The headmaster stated that their intelligence had revealed it was young people from out of the area that were pushing drugs to the pupils at his school. 

He also stated that there was no evidence drugs had been taken on school premises and this had only occurred weekends and evenings. Reiterating it was not a problem really when out of 1170 pupils only 16 pupils had action taken against them. 

Despite this he felt the action that was taken against them was hard and firm as it was intended "to send a powerful message to give the children in order for them to say to a drug pusher", I do not want your drugs as I may get expelled.

The police advised that the school "had uncovered the beginnings of what could have been a very unpleasant spreading of the use of cannabis in this particular town".

The 1980s "just say no" anti drug campaigns which were built on fear to prevent youths trying drugs were effective at the time but ceased being effective which it seems was lost on the government and national anti drug campaigns despite the huge cultural change in those years when rave and esctacy swept the nation. 

Back in the 1980's there really was only a small minority who were interested in drugs. The campaign installed fear that it drugs were not worth the risk and would only lead to you being a down and out on a park bench, prostitution a necessity to feed your habit.

All through my school years at that time in this area drugs never crossed my path until my final year of school in 1987. My only knowledge of drugs prior to this was from the Grange Hill storyline and the "just say no" campaign which followed. 

My first hand experience was nothing more than a rumour that two boys in my year had tried drugs. These boys were avoided and shamed and no info apart from the rumours were ever known.

Late 80s and early 90s that all changed. Most people got into the rave scene and instead of drinking alcohol, taking ecstasy became the norm. 

This meant all anti drug campaigns designed to deter youths from ever trying drugs through instilling fear was a waste of time on a generation that had already tried drugs so they had no belief drugs were as dangerous as they were being led to think as none of those bad things were happening to them or their friends. 

By the time my brother who was 7 years younger than me was at school, it was a very different experience. His reality in 1994 was that nearly half of the pupils at his school and the other schools (Roundwood, Sir John Lawes and St. George's) had tried "pot" by the age of 14. He was an early starter who tried it at 12 but he was not the only one. The drug was being sold at school by school children. 

My niece now 22, started smoking cannabis at 14 while attending Sir John Lawes, which is where she brought it and even smoked it in the breaks at school.

The majority of pupils in 2008 (2 years after it was supposedly  stamped out after the issue at St. George's) were doing the same.

The rationale being that cannabis was harmless as it is natural and although it was technically illegal, this was just a formality for now and would be legalised soon.

The real issue here is that more often than not it was and still is not cannabis these children are smoking but skunk which is more readily available.

Skunk is a chemically enhanced super strain of cannabis many times the strength! 

The biggest difference being that old school cannabis had a low level of THC, the mind altering hallucigenic known to cause psychosis but a balancing level of CBD which is thought to counteract the psychotic effects. Typical 1-3% of each substance. Whereas skunk contains 12 – 20% THC (some strains are higher) and 1% or less of CBD.

In oct 2015 peter lilley the harpenden MP called on the government not only to decriminalise cannabis but also to legalise it for sale and use. Even claiming that Queen Victoria was known to use it. Seemingly unaware that most are classing skunk as weed and have no idea there is a difference. Is he even aware?

Whether the police are aware or not, seems immaterial to those under 18 as well as them! The "know your rights" Herts police publication clearly states how the drug laws are applied with leniency to under 18s. 

Many youths have no respect for the police and definitely don't fear them as they no longer have any authority.

Those under 16 especially feel they are untouchable by the law knowing their rights and that a caution is all it will ever amount to and even after several offences an Asbo perhaps but this still does not mean they will have a criminal record unless a court finds them guilty of breaking the conditions.

For possession of drugs those under 18" may get a formal warning with further offences leading to a final warning or charge".(According to the "know your rights" Herts police publication)

It is any wonder that the youth of today no longer see drugs as illegal. They are not for them according to the law.

Is it any wonder the police turn a blind eye when after a youth offending several times and all the enhanced paperwork might end with an ASBO at most.

More likely though to end with the clued up youth lodging an harassment charge against the police bringing not only more paperwork but bad publicity, even a complaint to the local MP who has made his views on drugs well known! 

Is it any wonder that schools now turn a blind eye. 

The worst they can do is expel a pupil but this will open a can of worms as they can't expel one pupil without being seen to investigate further which would expose an issue that can only damage the schools reputation, count as a black mark tarnishing their national league table ratings and directly appose the views of the local MP and undermine the police statistics.

Cocaine to my knowledge has never publicly been associated with Harpenden.

Harpenden is an affluent town which has made it a breeding ground for cocaine for the last 10 years at least.

Cocaine, the designer drug, very much in vogue and seen as something those do to show wealth and status is rife in Harpenden.

In most bars in Harpenden frequented by 18 – 40+ (not just town centre) you will find less than a handful of people who are NOT taking cocaine.

The truth is you can have cocaine delivered to you quicker than a takeaway.

Most of the pub scene crowd in Harpenden have numerous cocaine dealers to choose from so it's guaranteed cocaine will be delivered within 20 mins max.

The Harpenden cocaine users and even those who don't use, all know who deals cocaine in harpenden as most of these dealers are well established having been in business for many years.

Cocaine is only taken discretely in bars for fear of the landlord confiscating their gear and feeling obligated to bar them for being blatant. It's unheard of for anyone to be caught taking drugs in the bars.

Everyone knows the police will never be involved for taking drugs as the well known dealers over the years don't usually get caught.

On the rare occasion one is caught, a night in the cells and a fine is all that ever comes of it.

The police must be aware of the true picture that Harpenden has a drug culture which is very much part of society now despite this not being reflected in their crime statistics. 

I suspect that because Harpenden is an affluent town the drug issues currently do not impact on the levels of other crime so why tackle it for the time being.

I have put it to David Lloyd, Herts Police Commissioner that the police statistics do not reflect drug crime accurately in my opinion and whether he is genuinely unaware of the situation or does the fact that it is not causing other crime means it's low priority 

The response via email I received on his behalf reiterated that the Herts police commissioner does not get involved in the operational side of things but they would pass on my concerns to the local officers. 

Whilst Harpenden and its residents are not being impacted by drug associated crimes such as high levels of burglary and muggings then perhaps the underlying drug culture that is most certainly part of Harpenden, is best left alone.