Ten Arrests As Operation Christmas Crackdown Hits Herefordshire

Police in Herefordshire have today (Friday 16 December) launched Operation Christmas Crackdown in areas spread right across the county.

The arrests are part of a West Mercia Police campaign ahead of Christmas that aims to target those individuals who cause the most harm within society and ensure that, where possible, offenders are removed from the community and cannot cause misery to others over the festive period.

Several bags of cannabis found during searches this morning.More than 50 officers have been involved in today's activities, carrying out intelligence-led roadside checks, finding and arresting people who are wanted on warrants, and executing search warrants.

As a result of the work done so far today, 10 people have been arrested in connection with a number of offences such as criminal damage, theft, possession of drugs and fraud.

The arrests that have been made include:

• Three males (aged 32, 19 and 14) and a 42-year-old female from the Leominster area on suspicion of criminal damage and theft in relation to damage caused to headstones at a cemetery in the town.
• A 52-year-old woman from Hereford has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.
• Four men who were wanted on warrant from four different addresses across the county. These men were wanted for either breaching their bail conditions or for failing to appear at court and all four have since appeared at Hereford Magistrates Court.
• A 31-year-old man from Peterchurch has been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug (cannabis). At least £10,000 of cannabis and more than £1000 in cash was recovered from a property following this man's arrest.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Andy Hughes, from the Police Command Team in Hereford, said:

"Operation Christmas Crackdown is all about taking firm action against those people in our community who cause harm, bring fear and commit crime. We are seeking to send out a very strong message today against these people and to show them that the police and communities of Herefordshire will not tolerate it.

"We have been executing warrants since just after midnight this morning, arresting those who are wanted for offences or on outstanding warrants and chasing up people who have tried to evade the judicial process.

"We have also been running an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operation in south Herefordshire - in conjunction with colleagues from Gwent Police, Dyfed Powys Police and Gloucestershire Police - to target those motorists who use vehicles to commit crime, or who don't have insurance or other documents.

"Elsewhere, police and community support officers from our Local Policing Teams will be targeting ASB (anti-social behaviour) hotspots and tackling people who cause misery for others. They will also be providing reassurance in areas that have seen an increase in police activity today.

"In addition, Local Police Officers and Special Constables will also be visiting local colleges later in the day to advise students about the dangers of alcohol and remind them to keep their wits about them when they go out to celebrate breaking up for Christmas at the end of the Autumn term.

"Although it is a sad fact that there are small minority of people in Hereford who are committing crime, through Operation Christmas Crackdown we want to send a clear message to them that we will not hesitate to charge offenders wherever possible.

"I'd also like to remind local people that we need support from our communities to help us fight crime and therefore and we urge local people to contact the police if they see anything suspicious which might be linked to crime.  Just pick up the phone and call the non-emergency 101 number.  Tell us in confidence and we will checkout what is going on."

T/DCI Hughes also urged people to use the anonymous Crimestoppers number, 0800 555 111, where information can be left without giving an identity and where a reward may be paid.

Operation Crackdown also supports the recently launched Christmas drink-drive campaign and Operation Christmas Presence, seeking to keep people and their property safe and secure over the festive season.

NB: Two further arrests have been made in Hereford since this press release was launched this morning. The first was a 43-year-old man for offences related to the Public Order Act, while the second was a 28-year-old woman on suspicion of possession of a controlled (Class A) drug.

Issued: Friday 16 December, 2011