Spy team to crack down in drug dealers

Police are using government cash to put four covert surveillance experts on the job of spotting the dealers in action and reporting back to specialist officers.

The four civilian drug spies to be taken on will be former police officers or similarly experienced people from the ranks of Customs and Excise and other bodies.

They will work closely with police drugs officers observing the dealers in action and reporting back information to make later arrests.

The money is coming from the government s Communities Against Drugs scheme.

Bexhill, Hastings and Rother are being given 215,000 a year for three years to help in its battle against dealers in killer drugs.

Half the money is to be spent on the surveillance team. The remainder is going into rehabilitation schemes for addicts, Crimestoppers initiatives to keep youngsters away from drugs and other community uses.

A domestic abuse worker will be hired out of the cash allocation.