A SENIOR officer says drug dealing supply lines have been hit by the pandemic on Teesside amid falling crime rates across the region.

Recorded crime in Stockton between April and December last year fell by 5.7 per cent when compared with the same period in 2019.

And Tuesday’s Safer Stockton Partnership heard how the drugs trade had also been interrupted on Teesside and further afield in the wake of covid.

Police figures presented to the panel showed falls in cases of shoplifting (down 52.6 per cent), business robberies (down 72.2 per cent) and commercial burglaries (down 27.9 per cent) across the borough.

Pandemic-hit Stockton saw theft cases fall by a third on those recorded between April and December in 2019.

Council figures also revealed cases of begging had dropped by more than a quarter in Stockton on those seen the year before.

Cllr Steve Nelson, cabinet member for community safety, noted the drops – and how acquisitive crimes were often driven by drug addictions.

He added: “I’m just wondering – have those individuals gone elsewhere to seek that funding?”

“Or, more optimistically, has there been an increase in people seeking referrals, assistance and treatment?”

Stockton Chief Inspector Chris Smiles said there were a number of rehabilitation programmes running at the moment – including the Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) scheme in neighbouring Middlesbrough.

But he told the panel the force had seen drug supply chains being affected both locally and nationally due to covid restrictions.

“There might be a shortage in the supply of drugs which might move people on to be rehabilitated,” said Chief Inspector Smiles.

“Fingers crossed that is the case – I couldn’t comment on it other than saying that.

“We’ve seen these reductions – and we haven’t seen a significant rise in other areas where we could say that offending has moved into another area.

“Let’s hope it’s rehabilitation and some effective partnership working.”

In December, councillors in Middlesbrough heard how front-line officers were now dealing with more problems from crack cocaine, drugs bought over the internet, and the abuse of prescription drugs in the town.

Middlesbrough is also receiving a boost through £4.5m “Project Adder” – aiming to clamp down on drug misuse and criminal gangs while offering support to recovering users.

Project Adder will run for three years and Chief Inspector Smiles told the partnership the programme should help Stockton as well.

Teesside has seen a high level of drug deaths in recent years – with 66 of the 88 poisoning fatalities seen in 2019 due to drug misuse.

Chief Insp Smiles explained teams had to be mindful of what effect reduced supply lines could have on what went into making drugs – and substances being mixed.

“Our prevention team is very much focussed on that area,” he added.