STRIKING OUT AT DRUG DEALERS: ROUND TWO
A hundred and fifty Police Officers took part in a STRIKEOUT Operation against drug dealing in Macclesfield and Wilmslow early today [23 April 2008].
Raids on 20 houses and flats in the two towns just after dawn targeted a 'substitute' drug network formed since a series of similar raids early in February.
Fourteen men and three women were arrested this morning. They are being questioned at police custody suites.
Superintendent Geraint Jones, who briefed the police teams before today’s raids, said “After the arrests in February people told us they noticed an immediate effect on the streets. Areas which had been plagued by drug dealing were free of it. That is the way it should be!
“This second-wave operation was always part of the plan. Right from the start we intended to take out anyone who believed they could step into the shoes of people who were taken into custody in February.
“As before, this morning’s action follows months of under-cover work by officers who have infiltrated the drug dealing network and put together files of evidence.
“From now on follow-up operations like this will feature in our moves to strike out drug dealing. It should send a clear message to dealers that they can never feel secure. At any hour of the day or night a team of Police Officers may smash through the door to arrest them.
“Drug dealing is a crime which is at the root of many social problems. Apart from the disastrous effects on drug addicts themselves, it drags down any neighbourhood where it is taking place. People with unpredictable and often threatening behaviour patterns come into the area. Their presence can result in a great deal of fear among decent people who live there.
“Drugs also generate other crimes. Most burglaries, thefts from vehicles, shop lifting and many offences of violence are driven by drugs.
“Cheshire Police are currently involved in a campaign called Strikeout to tackle a wide range of crime and disorder issues. This operation has been part of that. We have had a lot of recent successes with proactive operations against organised criminal groups but we have to constantly review and refresh our efforts against people who see crime as a business and are constantly seeking new opportunities and new tactics.
“Over coming months, if the Government allows us to, we will be making good use of the additional investment provided by the people of Cheshire, to disrupt organised drug dealing, robbery and fraud through surveillance, informants and use of search warrants.”
The arrests today were carried out after a 5am briefing for officers at a secret location in the Macclesfield/Wilmslow area. Teams of officers, some wearing complete body armour and carrying heavy rams and sledge hammers to force doors, went into seventeen houses in Macclesfield and three in Wilmslow.
Following the arrests Police Community Support Officers patrolled the areas around the addresses which had been raided, answering questions and inviting people to report any incidents or suspicions of crime and disorder in future.
Inspector Gareth Woods, in charge of Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Unit, (or Inspector Luke McDonnell, in charge of the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Policing Unit) said “Providing some reassurance for the public is a vital part of this type of operation, as is the back-up provided by partner agencies for drug addicts who are suddenly deprived of their supplier. Those back up measures were put in place as soon as the arrest part of the operation was over. The agencies will offer addicts support if they want to seize the opportunity to break their habit.
“This morning’s operation has been a good example of many different sections of Cheshire Police and other agencies working together to achieve a positive result Many different units of Cheshire Police were involved and the Enforcement Team Leader from Cheshire Peaks and Plains Housing Trust, Jo Cowap, accompanied us. The purpose of community policing is to make life better for people. That means people have to feel safe as well as be safe. Taking dealers off the streets does part of that job, but the sight of a uniform and a friendly face can help a lot.
“People need to be informed about what is going on and our officers can take care of that. We also need to get the message home to people that our campaign against drug dealing and drug abuse is persistent and continuing.
“Our best support for that and our campaign against all types of crime is information from the public. We want to know about anyone who is living the good life through criminal exploits and through the misery of other people.”
Information about drug dealing in Macclesfield and Wilmslow can be given on the Cheshire Police Information Line, 0845 458 0000; Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing line, 0845 458 6371; Wilmslow NPU line, 0845 458 6374; or anonymously on the Crimestoppers line 0800 555 111.
This morning’s Strikeout operation involved Officers from Cheshire Police Vector Teams, Cheshire Police Eastern Area Pro-Active Policing Unit, Specialist Investigation Unit, Tutor Unit, Paedophile Unit, Intelligence Unit and Custody Investigation Unit and officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Units at Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich. Police Community Support Officers from Macclesfield and Wilmslow NPUs were involved in the follow-up reassurance work.
Strikeout is the latest high-profile initiative from Cheshire Police to demonstrate what the Force and partner agencies are doing to tackle crime and disorder within local communities.
Strikeout will see a number of proactive operations over the next few months that are designed to target those who are intent on carrying out criminal activity in Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.
Organised crime, drugs, alcohol, anti-social behaviour, car crime and burglary are among the issues tackled by officers – working alongside representatives from partner agencies.
The aim of the initiative is to send out a clear message that Cheshire Police will not tolerate any behaviour which has a negative effect on people’s quality of life.
Alan Ingram, Eastern Area Press Officer 01244 615330 or 07768 301528
www.supportcheshirepolice.com
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