Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Leading councillors in Carmarthenshire have welcomed a proposed ban on legal highs. The move was unveiled in the Queen’s Speech this week as part of a 26-bill package put forward by the Government at Westminster. Carmarthenshire’s trading standards team has carried out a recent crackdown on so-called ‘legal highs’. An illegal product was seized from two Carmarthenshire businesses, and another business voluntarily surrendered it, as part of the initiative. The team has been working with the Home Office to bring about changes in the law which will allow them greater powers. Executive Board Member for Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “This proposed change in the law is good news, which we welcome. “In many cases our hands are tied behind our backs, as the current law does not allow us to take the kind of action we would like to get these products off the shelves.” Officers are continuing to seize illegal products from businesses, and to advise businesses about the sale of so-calle...

An illegal product has been seized from two Carmarthenshire businesses, and another business has voluntarily surrendered it, as part of a Trading Standards crack down on so-called ‘legal highs’. Officers seized the product ‘Amsterdam Gold’, also labelled as ‘Liquid Gold’, after finding it contravened the General Products Safety Regulations 2005 and The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009. The businesses found selling the product cannot be identified pending possible prosecution. Samples of other substances bought from a number of Carmarthenshire businesses by Trading Standards in test purchases are currently undergoing chemical analysis to determine whether they can be legally sold. Traders have been asked to cease selling any similar products until their safety can be confirmed. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds said: “We are working proactively to seize illegal products from businesses, and to advise busine...

Plans by the Choose Life charity to build a new facility in Llanelli’s Copperworks Road have been adjourned so that Carmarthenshire councillors can visit the site. Choose Life has submitted a full planning application to demolish the former factory building at Bannerbrook Auto Cable Products and put up a new purpose-built community facility to provide enhanced facilities for individuals and their families affected by substance misuse. The accommodation provided would include a reception/lobby, offices, large community area, diversionary activity rooms of varying sizes, assessment rooms, a kitchen, and toilet and store room facilities. Members of the planning committee voted to adjourn the application in order to go on a site visit.

Local agencies across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are promoting National Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday December 13th 2012. This year the focus is not only on overdose of illicit drugs, but also to raise awareness of the dangers of overdose through mixing different drugs, including alcohol, prescription medication, over the counter medication and also some of the new and emerging substances. As previously, the promotion of the ‘Take Home Naloxone Scheme’ will feature across Wales, and friends, family and concerned others are encouraged to take up the opportunity of free basic overdose awareness training. Naloxone when administered acts to temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose for between 15 minutes and an hour, thus allowing time to call emergency services. This work forms part of the Welsh Government’s Working Together to Reduce Harm substance misuse strategy for Wales 2008 – 2018. Stuart Moncur, Assistant Director of Planning and Chair of the Substance...

Pupils from Brecon High School work with police on initiative to raise awareness of perils of drugs and alcohol. | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Pupils from years 12 and 13 at Brecon High School have recently been working in partnership with Dyfed Powys Police officers to launch their ‘STAMP’ initiative. Stamp, which stands for Substance To Alcohol Misuse Partnership, has been created by the students to raise the awareness among their peers of the dangers of the misuse of alcohol and illegal drugs. A poster designed by Head Girl, Gemma Schiebe has been produced and displayed throughout the school.  And members of the team will be available to provide information leaflets to students on alcohol and drugs.

Record drug seizures take drugs off Llanelli’s streets. | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Significant drug seizures in Llanelli have seen more Class A drugs than ever before taken off the streets, making it harder for suppliers and their customers. Over the last12 months, Dyfed Powys Police’s Carmarthenshire priority policing team’s detectives have been relentlessly targeting known drug suppliers. Their efforts have resulted in substantial drug seizures and many offenders brought to justice for their actions. “The figures we’ve seen over the past twelve months are testament to the hard work and dedication of the officers working in the priority policing team”, said Detective Inspector Gary Phillips.

Paracetamol poisoning killed young mum | This is South Wales A young Llanelli mother died after taking too many paracetamol tablets to help cope with pain following routine surgery, an inquest heard.  Single mum Desiree Phillips, 20, was buying the painkillers over the counter and had upped her dose to "a few extra tablets" a day. The talented singer was found unconscious next to a pack of the tablets at the home where she lived with her 11-month-old son.

Carmarthenshire is hosting a multi-agency conference to highlight the impact felt by children and young people with an alcoholic or drug-dependant parent. The third annual Hidden Harm conference is being hosted by Carmarthenshire County Council and Barnardo’s. Children’s Commissioner for Wales Keith Towler will speak at the event, which is being held at Ammanford Miner’s Theatre on Monday, March 12. The event will also showcase a thought-provoking, play developed between Mess up the Mess Theatre Company and Barnardo’s Cymru. `Hidden’ is based on the real life experiences of local young people and explores the damage caused to families because of substance misuse. Delegates will have the opportunity to talk to the playwright, cast members and other professionals involved as part of the day. Kelvin Barlow, Manager of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Substance Misuse Services, said: “This will be our third local conference and will be beneficial for any professionals who work with c...

Thirteen Sentenced for Drug Offences | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Police who spent four months conducting an undercover operation targeting heroin dealers in Newtown and Welshpool are seeing the fruit of that labour today after the 13 who were arrested and charged were sentenced. All had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs or supplying Class A drugs.

Young people warned of the dangers of crime and substance misuse | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys A play and a series of workshops aimed at educating young people to the dangers of criminality drugs and alcohol misuse will be held in secondary schools throughout Pembrokeshire at the end of February. Now in its 10th year, the ‘Crime of Your Life’ (COYL) event is a multi-agency initiative that involves a play and interactive workshops that highlight the consequences of crime and substance misuse on individuals and communities. The event, which runs from Monday February 27th to Tuesday March 6, is organised by Dyfed Powys Police, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service (MAWWF), Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, the Youth Offending Team (YOT), Safer Underage Drinking and Drugs Service (SUDDS), and Victim Support.

Three more sentenced thanks to undercover drugs operation | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Three more people who pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs following an undercover police operation in Carmarthenshire have been sentenced, two receiving prison terms and one a community order. • 39 year old Robert John pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and possessing heroin. He was sent to prison for 34 months. • 33 year old Scott Hilde pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and possessing cannabis. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison. • Lisa Fisher aged 34 was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of heroin and pleaded guilty to possessing heroin. She was given a community order and drug rehabilitation referral.

Drug activists hit back at bong ban bid | This is South Wales A Llanelli drugs worker has been slammed over his "scaremongering" bong campaign — by cannabis legalisation activists. The leader of the Cannabis Law Reform Political Party Peter Reynolds, has accused Chooselife Wales director Alan Andrews of using "false science" in his fight to rid Llanelli town centre of drugs paraphernalia. The accusation follows Mr Andrews's claims that cannabis can be just as destructive as Class A drugs. But Mr Andrews has vowed to continue in his campaign to stop the sale of legal water pipes, which can be used to smoke cannabis.

It's back to the trenches in Burry Port to beat a drug habit. The trenches have been excavated by Carmarthenshire Council to protect land on the fringes of the Millennium Coastal Park at Burry Port because of reports of its use by drug users and dealers. Residents in Heol Vaughan and Tanbryn have complained to Carmarthenshire Council of cars gathering at night on land between Shoreline Caravan Park and Ashburnham Golf Club. They claim scores of cars and local youngsters are involved. They are driving their vehicles on to the land and leave behind evidence of drug taking paraphernalia including bags full of needles that have been recovered and handed in by residents. The land is the part of the Pembrey Harbour system built almost 200 years ago (1819) that was filled in by the former Burry Port Urban Council as an incinerator land fill and domestic tipping site in the early 1970's. The land has been earthed and grassed over and has had limited leisure use. At one time Ashburnham...

A drugs summit is being held later this month to help young people in Carmarthenshire. Council leader Meryl Gravell has asked the Community Safety Partnership to organise the event. She said the aim was to bring together a range of experts and services to look at how they could all work together to combat the county’s drug problem. A number of organisations have been invited to take part in the summit which is taking place at the end of June. Councillor Gravell said: “We must work together to find practical solutions and ways of supporting young people, not only to help them beat the addiction but also to prevent them trying drugs in the first place. “By involving housing, children’s services, youth services and other organisations we can take a holistic approach to improve support services for young people and their families.”

On Sunday 11th July The Hannah Meredith Foundation (THMF) is holding a fundraising formal Black-Pink tie gala, 6pm at the Diplomat Hotel. The event has been organised to raise much needed funds to further our campaign and help families tackle the problems that drugs have been causing within our communities at a grass roots level. The night will involve a three course meal, a band well known on the London music scene, a DJ and an auction. Among some of the things up for grabs are a signed football from Arsenal, signed shorts from Lee Halfpenny, a dress from Holly Willoughby with signed photo, a master class from celebrity chef Gizzi (from This Morning breakfast show) and a celebrity guest speaker. On the night you will have the opportunity to network and advertise your business. The finances raised from the event will enable THMF to register as a charity, employ staff and get our drugs education booklet published (which will include Hannah’s “Dear Heroin” letter as shown in the national...

BBC News - Boxer Joe Calzaghe's cocaine apology Tut-tut, Joe. And no good blaming the press!

Carmarthenshire's Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has agreed to investigate new ways of providing the county’s needle exchange scheme. A raft of improvements have recently been made to the scheme, which is a service required by each CSP in Wales, to improve return rates of used needles and the safety of both individuals and the community. These include the introduction of smaller packs (three needles instead of 10) to encourage clients to take only the equipment they require for their day’s use; targeted outreach work by drug agencies to hotspot areas; and a new ‘Don’t Touch – Tel’ campaign to encourage the safe removal of any discarded needles. At the same time, figures also show the number of needles being returned is improving – the return rate for the first quarter of this year (April-June) was 43 per cent compared with 30 per cent for the same period last year. Carmarthenshire’s return rate of 40 per cent for 2008/09 also compares favourably with neighbouring counties – Cer...

'Drugs are making our lives a misery', Cwrt y Berllan, Carmarthen, Drugs misery story from Carmarthen Journal.