Police get keys for tenant drug checks

Officers will be able to patrol communal areas looking for illegal substances in a radical anti-drugs and anti-crime scheme in York.

The aim of Operation Co-operation is prevention, but if a crime is detected a tenant could both be arrested and thrown out of the property.

The initiative is the brainchild of York landlord Colin Cain, who wants to ensure drug users do not take up residence at his properties in the city and across the county.

But the usefulness of the scheme in tackling substance abuse has been called into question by drugs experts.

Mr Cain, a partner at Walmgate Property Services, said that while he had never had a problem with drug users in any of his houses, he was trying to pre-empt the situation.

"We have zero-tolerance for drugs," he said. "We are not just in this business for the money. We want to do our best to look after our tenants and make them feel safe and secure, and to show consideration for other residents in the area."

He said the scheme had been brought in at first in three shared houses in The Groves but could be introduced at the firm's other properties across the county.

Groves PC Howard Smelt-Webb said that since he had been paying visits to the houses, there had been fewer complaints about noise and other problems.

"It sends out a message to both sides", he said. "If you are into drugs or crime you know the local cop could walk through the door at any time, but if you're not, it's good to have me around anyway."

But the scheme met with a cool reception from Hugo Luck, North Yorkshire's drug tsar.

He said that for people trying to get away from a life of drugs, having a roof over their heads was of prime importance.

"Getting chucked out of home is the worst possible thing that could happen to someone in this situation," he said.

see also 'Drug searches and privacy'

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.