DRUGS are the modern day scourge, the cause of misery to individuals and to society in general.

As well as taking over the lives of addicts, and rendering them incapable of leading a useful life, hard drugs also affect every one of us.

Addicts who become dependent on such drugs need to fund their destructive habit so they turn to crime. This is where drugs become an issue for society at large, rather than only for the addicts.

A high proportion of crime throughout the country is linked to drugs - a depressing trend which is apparent in a city such as York and smaller towns in the region.

Drug dealing and the crime it causes present a huge problem for the police. Society does not want to tolerate the drug users or the many disruptive and disturbing crimes they commit. But dealing with this menace is not easy.

The latest police operation in York has targeted suspected drug dealers on the street, tackling them head on in a series of undercover stings. Coming under the title of Operation Caboodle, this important initiative hopes to rid York streets of heroin and crack cocaine.

This drugs bust has been funded by the Home Office via the Safer York Partnership. As such, it is a good example of broad co-operation to tackle a wide social problem. Funding the operation in this way lessens the cost to local police funds.

Most importantly, this operation shows police officers going out on to the streets of York and trapping drugs dealers using covert means. This is vital if drug use is to be restricted because one major way to tackle drug dealers is to restrict the street level supply.

It should not be forgotten that such an operation requires a steady nerve from the police and individual bravery on the part of officers who go undercover to capture the dealers.

So more power to Operation Caboodle's elbow.

Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, February 18, 2004