A new police operation tasked with tackling organised crime and drugs launched across Gedling borough yesterday (Jan 29).
Nottinghamshire Police officers yesterday searched properties and made arrests as part of Operation Reacher
Teams searched two properties in Mapperley having received intelligence from the community. During the warrants, officers arrested a man after finding a quantity of Class B drugs.
Operation Reacher originated in the Bestwood estate, where Nottinghamshire Police set up dedicated team to combat gangs and criminals who made some people’s lives a real misery. Their remit was to tackle local issues and crime, breaking up organised crime while also maintaining and enhancing community and partner relationships.
In less than two years the team has worked with the community to turn around the area, eradicating organised crime and dealing with the criminals intent on causing misery.
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “The success of Reacher in Bestwood is phenomenal and we’re very pleased to see the new teams carrying out this proactive work to Gedling today.
“While there may not be the same gang or drug issues in other areas, we will use the dedicated teams to crack down on any criminal element which is causing local people misery.
“No one should have to tolerate this. We are building our neighbourhood policing, enhancing what we are already delivering and growing it by placing more police in each area.”
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said: “People tell me they want to see a more proactive and visible presence on our streets which is why we are dedicating our uplift resource to this. We are committed to working with communities and keeping them safe.”
Insp. Marcus Oldroyd, who has been the driver behind the action in Bestwood, will be coordinating the teams and said: “We’re very pleased to see the first Reacher teams outside of Bestwood coming into force.
“Having a dedicated resource like this gives us more chance to arrest people and place people before the courts, and the results/interactions we’ve had in Gedling today just show the positive impact these teams will be able to have throughout Nottinghamshire.”
“Having the resource to be able to carry this out across other neighbourhoods I know will be a huge boost to local people living in these areas.”
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Gedling, Insp. Chris Pearson, added: “It’s fantastic to be able to have these teams in the area and we look forward to working with them to tackle the issues that matter to people in Gedling.”
“The work that has taken place today is very much a positive move for us in neighbourhood policing, and we’d take this opportunity to reassure people that any issues reported in the area will be taken seriously and looked into.”
