PHARMACISTS could be the key to help officers crack down on gang members dealing drugs on the streets of Southend, a police chief has claimed.

Chief Inspector Simon Anslow, district commander for Southend, and officers from the Operation Raptor gang unit have met with chemists in the town to ask for information about illegal drug activity.

The officers are hoping the pharmacists will be able to identify gang members and any distinctive clothing they wear, as well as specific locations of where deals take place.

Chemists are being targeted as it is thought they will come into contact with drug users and dealers on a regular basis.

Mr Anslow said: "The Home Office was invited by the community safety partnership to come and do a review of gangs in the town.

"It was a fact-finding overview of what a gang picture in Southend looks like.

"We know urban street gangs, connected with a number of drug lines, are coming into the town and violence emerges over competing elements.

"One of their recommendations was to collect what we deem as 'softer intelligence' from people like pharmacists and street cleaning teams who might come into contact with drug dealers.

"Street cleaners could be finding needles in a particular location before we are aware there is even a problem there.

"What we have done is pulled together an intelligence requirement and presented that to the pharmacies to let them know the kind of stuff we need to know about.

"We don't know the kind of stuff they hear or see. They might overhear conversations and if they are seeing people on a regular basis, they might even have a chatty relationship."

He was keen to trace whether methadone pharmacies had seen an increase in gang members outside their premises and whether weapons had been seen hidden in public places.

He added: "It is this kind of intelligence that gives us a fuller picture and gets us ahead of the curve.

"It gives us every opportunity to get ahead of these groups and stop them in their tracks."

Police chiefs in Basildon and Southend claim the areas have been infiltrated by gangs from London, who have come to Essex specifically to deal drugs.

One of Basildon’s notorious gangs is the Bush Boys, who hail from the Shepherd’s Bush area of London, hence their street name.

Operation Raptor was set up earlier this year to tackle London dealers coming to Essex to sell class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Officers have been acting on intelligence to stop and search suspected dealers, execute search warrants at properties believed to be linked to dealing and stop check vehicles of interest.

The team – made up of two sergeants and eight PCs – was set up after tactical teams in Basildon and Southend were merged in last October’s force reshuffle.

The old teams also tackled burglaries, but Raptor is focusing solely on gang activity.

Information police would like to know includes whether suspected gang members used certain specific types of transport, such as particular vehicles or train services.

Officers are also keen to receive information about regular meeting places, such as gyms, clubs or cafes, and whether they have favourite takeaway or fast food outlets.

Details can be passed via e-mail to south.essex.gangs@essex.pnn.police.uk.

Anyone with information about drug dealing where they live can call Essex Police on 101.

Those who would rather not speak to police can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.