POLICE have denied a claim that known drugs dealers in Sedbury are not being targeted.

The area's new police constable, Nick Assirati, found himself having to defend the approach when he attended a meeting of Tidenham parish council.

Parish councillor Alan Lynegar said several people had approached him with concerns about drug use.

He said: "I have been told that the police know who the main culprits are but they refuse to do anything about it."

PC Assirati said it was very difficult to prove drug dealing.

He said: "Availability is going up. It is a societal issue.

"Our approach is to go to schools and talk to young people and tell them they will be offered this stuff and what it involves."

Councillor Lynegar said that appeared to be taking a "softly softly" approach to drugs.

PC Assirati said: "I am not saying that but you have to be realistic about what can be achieved.

"If people want to talk to me I would love to hear from them."

"If I had limitless resources I could squeeze a lot of drugs out of Sedbury. We have to deal with the world as it is."

Councillor Lynegar countered: "You are there to uphold the law not to pass judgement."

PC Assirati said: "If you enforced every breach of the law the system would collapse.

"If someone swears that is a breach of the law but you have to take a measured approach and apply it dispassionately and with commonsense."