Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jan 2005
Source: Manchester Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Manchester Evening News
Contact:  http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1313
Author: Paul Britton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

FURY AT TV PORTRAYAL OF 'DRUG' ESTATE

ANGRY residents today hit back at a BBC programme which highlighted
widespread drug dealing and abuse on their housing estate.

They said the documentary last night focusing on the housing estate in
Bury - known locally as the Dicky Bird estate - painted a one-sided
view and glamorised drug use.

Graphic images of crack cocaine and heroin abuse
featured strongly in Drugland: Manchester.

Drug users and dealers were interviewed in what BBC bosses called "a
shocking 60-minute expose" of their day-to-day lives.

Images of crack cocaine and heroin being prepared were also shown and
drug users from the estate, some as young as 14, were interviewed
about their habits and shown taking drugs on the streets.

The programme also revealed a culture of "lay-ons" or drug loans to
ever-younger "punters", moving into heavy drugs use from their early
teens.

They told how the system of drug dealing worked, from major players to
street dealers. But residents today branded the programme
irresponsible.

A 42-year-old woman who has lived on the estate for five years said:
"It is not what I would want children to see and it painted a very bad
impression of our estate. People are not all like that and I know many
other parents feel strongly about it as well."

A 34-year-old woman with four children admitted it is well known that
drug dealing goes on behind closed doors but said the estate was no
different to many others in Greater Manchester.

Minority

She said: "It is not like you see that sort of thing every day. It is
just certain people. The programme was good but the majority of drug
use takes place behind closed doors and involves a minority of people
not the majority."

The Dicky Bird estate is predominantly council properties on the
outskirts of the town centre.

Drug dealer Rupert Satchell, 42, was shot dead two years ago at a
house in Goldfinch Drive.

Gary Kelly, 30, from Rochdale was later jailed for 10 years after
pleading guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. Mr Satchell's
family were also interviewed in the programme.

Police today confirmed that just hours before the programme aired at 9
o'clock last night, two men were arrested and a "significant" haul of
crack cocaine was recovered during raids on two houses in Willow Street.

Greater Manchester Police arrested the men on behalf of North Wales
Police and they were still being questioned today. Police said the
arrests were not linked to the programme and were the result of an
intelligence-led operation.

Police today admitted that the programme showed the "horror and
despair" of drug dealing in Britain today.

Last night's episode was the second of a three-part investigation into
how drug dealing has permeated everyday life.

The first episode, shown on Tuesday, focused on cocaine dealing in
London and tonight's third and final episode will highlight drug
dealing in Ibiza. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake