Drugs Seized And 16 Arrests In Christmas Crackdown
Officers force entry to a property in Broad Street, Kidderminster during todayA total of 16 arrests were made across North Worcestershire today (Wednesday, 14 December) for offences including drug possession and assault as West Mercia Police carried out Operation Christmas Crackdown.
Plain clothes and uniformed officers executed warrants and visited properties in Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove and Redditch in a series of planned raids which began just after 6am. Other arrests in connection with offences in North Worcestershire were made in Birmingham and Worcester.
The operation was designed to take offenders off the streets in the run up to Christmas and send a clear message that criminal activity will not be tolerated within our neighbourhoods.
At Broad Street in Kidderminster two men, one in his 20s and the other in his 40s, were arrested in suspicion of possessing Class A drugs after officers made a forced entry to a property. A quantity of white powder, believed to be heroin, was seized and 20 wraps believed to contain Class A drugs were later recovered after the men had been taken in for questioning.
A man is led away after being arrrested on suspicion of drug offences at KidderminsterPolice carried out a search of the property which included the use of specially trained ‘sniffer' dogs. Officers also seized drugs paraphernalia including smoking pipes along with around a dozen mobile phones, SIM cards, a quantity of cash, an unopened safe, and a CCTV system.
A large amount of suspected stolen property, including toys and electrical goods, was also seized during the raid.
Elsewhere in Wyre Forest police went to a house in Windsor Drive, Kidderminster, and arrested a man who was wanted on warrant. He was taken to Kidderminster Magistrates Court.
Another man was arrested in the town at Gould Avenue East during the execution of a drugs warrant obtained under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The man, who is in his 30s, was cautioned after he was found in possession of a small amount of cannabis.
At Bromsgrove the execution of a warrant at Charford led to a man in his 40s being arrested for failing to appear in court. Another warrant led to the arrest of a man on suspicion of voyeurism. A man and a woman in their 30s were arrested together in Bromsgrove on suspicion of criminal damage, as was a man in his 20s at Barnt Green. And at Sidemoor a man in his 50s was arrested in connection with an assault on a woman.
Police officers based at Redditch arrested a woman at Astley Close on suspicion of handling stolen goods and seized toys and jewellery. During the execution of a search warrant in Studley Road 2,000 cigarettes and clothing was seized as a man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Detective Sergeant Marc Sanders removes bags of evidence from the property in Broad StreetA man was also arrested at Pype Hayes, Birmingham, on suspicion of making threats to kill in Redditch. In addition officers made two separate arrests in Worcester in connection with offences of criminal damage, burglary and vehicle crime committed in Redditch.
Police and Community Support Officers leafleted homes in streets where arrests took place to tell them what was happening and provide reassurance.
Roadside operations involving the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipment also took place on the A435 at Wythall, on the A38 at Rubery and in Worcester Road, Kidderminster.
During the Wythall operation one man was arrested for taking a vehicle without consent and at all three sites a total of seven vehicles were seized after the drivers were found to be uninsured.
Operation Christmas Crackdown also involved West Mercia's Safer Roads Partnership, the Central Motorways Police Group, West Mercia Police's dog section, Warwickshire Police and Crimestoppers.
Inspector Julian Smith, who co-ordinated the operation in North Wocestershire, said: "Many of the raids carried out today were intelligence-led and focused on individuals who cause the most harm within our communities, for example those suspected of burglary, violent crime, sexual offences and drugs.
Drugs paraphernalia seized during today"We want our communities to have a good Christmas and have targeted these offenders to help achieve that and make our towns and villages safer.
"While we are pleased with the results of the operation today this crackdown will continue in the days and weeks to come and is sending out a clear message to the criminal fraternity that their offending will not be tolerated."
Anyone with information of interest to the police, or if they wish to speak to a member of their Local Policing Team, should call officers on 0300 333 3000. Alternatively information can be passed on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
More photos on our Flickr page
Issued: Wednesday, 14 December 2011