Assessment of a concentrated, high-profile police operation. No discernible impact on drug availability, price or purity

Two weeks after the start of a major police initiative targeting drug deali ng in London (described by the Metropolitan Police as a 'spectacular succes s'), 174 street drug users were interviewed about drug price, availability and purity. Only seven users reported price increases for any drug, with th e majority stating that there had been no change in any market features. Th is basic pattern was not influenced by whether the users were aware of the operation, whether they lived in the areas directly affected or by the numb er of different dealers that they used to purchase their drugs. Paradoxical ly, any perceived changes were more likely to be 'improvements' in the mark et than deterioration (i.e. lower price, greater availability and higher le vels of purity). There is limited evidence from the current study to suppor t the assertion that targeted policing will impact on the accessibility, pr ice or quality of heroin, cannabis or crack cocaine.