The scene captured by police on their head-cam of a man shooting heroin into his groin
THIS is the scene that police officers faced when they closed down a Swindon crackhouse.
New head-cams managed to catch a desperate addict injecting heroin into his groin just as police came through the door.
Video footage released to the Adver shows the man taking the drugs before stumbling onto a bed.
Insp Adrian Burt, of Swindon police, said the image shows that taking drugs is far from glamorous.
He warned what may start out as recreational drug taking can easily descend into the seedy sights he was confronted with that day.
"This is the first time we have ever captured drug taking on camera, which shows the success of the head-cams in gathering evidence," he said.
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"The individual is a desperate person and relies heavily on drugs.
"With a person who is heavily addicted their day-to-day routine is about when they are going to obtain their next lot of drugs."
Police hope the footage will highlight the danger of drugs,
"Taking drugs might start out as an inquisitive, recreational activity but it can turn into a very serious drug habit that will ruin and destroy the rest of their lives, and not just their lives but their family and friends and anyone connected with them.
"Their fixation really is just on the next hit," said Insp Burt.
The video shows officers raiding the house in Latton Close, Penhill, in November.
The man and his partner were kicked out of their council house after turning it into a drugs den for all comers.
Insp Burt said: "The woman came to answer the door and is trying to chat to us while he is injecting and we get straight in there and he is in the bedroom.
"We use the cameras on a regular basis now and they are used to gather evidence.
"Now it's not simply just the word of the police officer.
"This was all on video so there wasn't much of an argument they could put up.
"They are obviously now removed and the impact it has had on the local community is quite considerable.
"Previously there were a number of people suffering from their behaviour and the behaviour of the individuals coming to that address. Once they were removed that antisocial behaviour ceased immediately."
Swindon police have six head-cam sets which they use in various circumstances, such as during crowd trouble at football games and in the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights.
"Depending on how successful they are, we may look to purchase more," Insp Burt said.
"In 10 years' time it could be just another part of everyday policing."
Police did not stop the man injecting himself for fear that they might snap the needle in a struggle.
Insp Burt said: "That individual is injecting into his groin because he was unable to find a vein anywhere else on his body.
"He had used the veins in his arms and legs so many times that he couldn't find a vein."
He said heroin users would start by injecting into their arms and legs before moving to in between their toes or fingers and then finally the groin.
"We have had individuals that we have taken to hospital and even nurses can't find a vein.
"A high proportion fund their habit through crime so it's not just them it affects but the victims of crime. That's what we are trying to stamp out."
DRUG workers hope the video will be a real eye-opener for those experimenting with illegal substances.
Bill Carlton, the director of Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service, said: "This is a very real video, and it is very good that something like this is in the public domain. Of course people can choose not to watch it, but it really removes the veil of glamour that for some people surrounds drug addicts and addiction.
"The life of a drug addict is not glamorous.
"I thought that the way the police handled the situation was excellent, and increasingly more and more we are noticing that the police are taking more interest in the methods of drug treatment because that is often the best way to deal with addicts, but clearly there has to be a balance.
"I think this video will have the effect of perhaps shaking up those people who are experimenting or exploring the use of heroin."
Therapist Thalia Shannon-Eyers, of Step Aside Consultancy, based in Wiltshire, gives support to recovering drug addicts and alcoholics.
"Anything that will make people see the reality of drug taking can only help things," she said.
"I think it will make people sit up and think oh my gosh'.
"However, if someone does take drugs they need help because they will become addicted. It is inevitable.
"People seem to think taking drugs is glamorous because they see it on television. They see people celebrating something that is good by drug taking or drinking but they need to get out of the glamour and realise the anguish that people suffer when these glamorous' ideas get out of hand.
"The pictures may stop people from drug taking and I think that the general reaction upon seeing these pictures will be that of disgust.
"It will hopefully make teenagers think that drug taking is disgusting but then again they may feel invincible and think they will never get like that.
"I don't however think it will make people realise his pain, which is what drug taking basically is - to cover emotional pain."
Richard Kramer, the director of policy at Turning Point, the organisation now in charge of Swindon Druglink, said he was more concerned about where the addict was injecting his drugs.
"Turning Point is aware of the worrying trend among injecting drug users to inject into the groin and this usually happens when they have exhausted usable veins in their arms and legs," he said.
"Groin injection is even more dangerous than using other sites on the body as it is more susceptible to infection and the chances of hitting an artery are much higher than if you were to inject elsewhere.
"This is certainly not a glamorous lifestyle - something most drug users would agree with, given that groin injection is usually the last resort."
IF you are worried that someone you know may be getting into drugs there is help and support available...
Turning Point Druglink Swindon provides free and confidential services to anyone living in the Swindon area whose life has been affected by drug misuse. There is a drop-in service at the office in Victoria Road. For information visit www.turning-point.co.uk
Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service can be contacted on 01793 695405 weekdays 9am-4.30pm, also Tuesday and Wednesday 7-9pm.
ADFAM - The National agency for families and friends of drug users offering confidential information www.adfam.org.uk
Drugscope - A national charity that provides up-to-date drug information. Call 0207 928 1211 or visit www.drugscope.org.uk
FRANK - Advice and information for anyone concerned about drugs. Available 24 hours a day by calling 0800 776600 or visit www.talktofrank.com
The National Drugs Helpline - Free phone advice, info and counselling on anything to do with drugs. Open to anyone by calling 0800 776 600.
Posted by: Antony Owen, swindon on 3:48pm Mon 12 Mar 07
The scene has not chandge for years...Except it becoming more popular than ever...This is a normal drug useing den...Nothing special...They are all the same...But why ain't we doing anything about it...It need whole lot more to sort this matter out in swindon.
The scene has not chandge for years...Except it becoming more popular than ever...This is a normal drug useing den...Nothing special...They are all the same...But why ain't we doing anything about it...It need whole lot more to sort this matter out in swindon.
Please get these officers some needle & syringe training. Putting the cap back on a needle could result in a needlestick injury regardless of whether they have gloves on or not!
Please get these officers some needle & syringe training. Putting the cap back on a needle could result in a needlestick injury regardless of whether they have gloves on or not!
well done to the police team involved, just goes to show theyre not only interested in pushing infront the queue in starbucks! this video should be shown to kids in schools to make them aware how un glamorous drug using is and how easy it is to beocme addicted[bold]bold[/bold]
well done to the police team involved, just goes to show theyre not only interested in pushing infront the queue in starbucks! this video should be shown to kids in schools to make them aware how un glamorous drug using is and how easy it is to beocme addicted
Posted by: Carleen Jaramillo, Albuquerque NM on 10:34pm Mon 12 Mar 07
It was very upsetting to read a comment about putting a bullet into someone because they are a herion addict.That is to much. But i totally agree you can not feel sorry for "US". I was a herion addict, but i am clean know, and it its insulting rude remarks like the bullet in the head that get us not to want to staop that just makes us careless even more. But I can say is that tuff love is the best thing that you can do for the one that you love who is on herion. It is easier said then done. I can honestly say thaat i am proud of the fact that I didn't steal or ask to barrow money for my dope. The way my husband and my self felt is that if we want to us then we should be able to get it on our own. I'm not proud of the way we made our money but we didn't steal from family friends or even stores, Inow that others do, do stupied things like that.
It was very upsetting to read a comment about putting a bullet into someone because they are a herion addict.That is to much. But i totally agree you can not feel sorry for "US". I was a herion addict, but i am clean know, and it its insulting rude remarks like the bullet in the head that get us not to want to staop that just makes us careless even more. But I can say is that tuff love is the best thing that you can do for the one that you love who is on herion. It is easier said then done. I can honestly say thaat i am proud of the fact that I didn't steal or ask to barrow money for my dope. The way my husband and my self felt is that if we want to us then we should be able to get it on our own. I'm not proud of the way we made our money but we didn't steal from family friends or even stores, Inow that others do, do stupied things like that.
Can I just say that I totally agree with Misty.
NEVER, NEVER put a needle cap back on without using a needle guard.
Most needle stick injuries happen when you are trying to put the cap back on and the needle misses and goes into your hand.
When working in the nhs we were told to put needles straight into a sharps bin without putting the cap back on, or if you had to put the cap back on use a needle guard.
The police knew they were going into a drug users address so they should of had sharps bins with them.
Can I just say that I totally agree with Misty.
NEVER, NEVER put a needle cap back on without using a needle guard.
Most needle stick injuries happen when you are trying to put the cap back on and the needle misses and goes into your hand.
When working in the nhs we were told to put needles straight into a sharps bin without putting the cap back on, or if you had to put the cap back on use a needle guard.
The police knew they were going into a drug users address so they should of had sharps bins with them.
Misty - he's wearing a Turtle Skin Needle proof glove by the looks of it - so risk of needlestick very low.
What's more disgusting is that the police have given this footage to the Advertiser - and after this this footage will end up all over the net - on TV, U-Tube etc; the way that the police sell or giveaway footage to the media is getting out of control.
And the police should be very careful if they want to go around when people have a needle in the femoral vein; one slip and they hit the artery. Some people won't care - but the police should never really try and get a person to pull out when the needle's in the groin - too dangerous for all concerned.
Misty - he's wearing a Turtle Skin Needle proof glove by the looks of it - so risk of needlestick very low.
What's more disgusting is that the police have given this footage to the Advertiser - and after this this footage will end up all over the net - on TV, U-Tube etc; the way that the police sell or giveaway footage to the media is getting out of control.
And the police should be very careful if they want to go around when people have a needle in the femoral vein; one slip and they hit the artery. Some people won't care - but the police should never really try and get a person to pull out when the needle's in the groin - too dangerous for all concerned.
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