A dedicated Operation Reacher team has now seized around £18,000 in suspected criminal money and arrested or interviewed 45 suspects since its introduction in the Gedling borough.
The team, which has been operating in the area since the end of January, has also seized 28 vehicles and carried out 12 warrants in the borough to date as it continues to work closely with the Gedling Neighbourhood Team in helping to tackle drug-related crime.
Operation Reacher started in Bestwood and Top Valley to tackle organised crime as well as build vital links with the community.
Following that team’s success and Nottinghamshire Police recruiting new officers, the force has replicated the operation in the Gedling borough, with plans to set up similar teams across the force area.
As well as helping to tackle and reduce drug supply in the Gedling borough, which remains a top policing priority for the area, the Gedling Operation Reacher Team has also been helping the community during the Coronavirus outbreak by taking donated food to local schools, care homes and ambulance stations.
Inspector Chris Pearson, Neighbourhood Policing Inspector responsible for local policing in the Gedling borough area, said: “There have been some excellent results since the end of January when the Operation Reacher team landed in Gedling.
“Our efforts to combat drug supply and drug use continued throughout April with a number of proactive drugs warrants and arrests carried out.
“Drug dealing has a significant impact on the local community and is often a precursor to more serious crimes such as violence and other acquisitive crime.
“Often drug users will commit offences such as burglary, auto crime and shop theft in order to fund drug habits therefore the impact on the local community cannot be underestimated.
“Officers from the Gedling Neighbourhood team, our Special Constables and Operation Reacher have been working together in order to develop intelligence and take action around those believed to be supplying controlled drugs.
“We are carrying out high-visibility and plain clothes patrols in locations known for drug use and supply and officers are reviewing intelligence received which will be assessed and prioritised for enforcement action.
“Drugs warrants will continue and we are working with our schools officers to provide education around drug use in our local schools, particularly given that it is linked to more serious crime.
“We are also working with our partners to deal with substance misuse in the local community.
“We will use social media to publish results of enforcement action and will look to work closely with partners to take further action around prolific offenders which may involve the use of closure orders or criminal behaviour orders.”
Last month’s results included officers arresting a 26-year-old man on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug and recovering a quantity of cannabis during a warrant at an address on Dunstan Street, Netherfield. The suspect was subsequently released under investigation.
Another warrant was carried out on High Street, Arnold, with three suspects being arrested and controlled drugs and cash being seized. This was linked to a further warrant in the Epperstone area where Class A drugs were recovered.
Three vehicles were also stopped during the month, resulting in drugs, cash and an offensive weapon being recovered.
Officers made nine arrests during April following this activity and a man was also interviewed under caution in relation to drug supply offences.
Insp Pearson added: “Our proactive work to tackle drug use and supply in the Gedling borough is very much ongoing and it’s an issue we have made a priority after listening to residents’ concerns.
“We have carried out a number of successful warrants to date, on the back of information received from members of the public.
“I’d encourage anyone with any concerns about drug use and supply in their area to please report it to us so that we can carefully assess and prioritise information before taking action against offenders.
“If you have any concerns or see anything suspicious in your area, please do not hesitate to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
The Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke, said: “We are very pleased with the results of this ongoing joint operation with the police and our wardens to reduce crime and drug misuse in our borough.
“Our residents want to feel safe where they live and this operation is a direct response to those concerns.
“We are facing a number of difficult challenges at this time but we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our police colleagues and we will continue to prioritise our work with them, to target any criminal activity in our communities.
“On behalf of everyone at Gedling Borough Council and our residents, we want to thank the police for the work they are doing to keep us safe.”
