Police chiefs say that organised crime groups have been rocked to their core by a network of specialist uniformed neighbourhood police teams formed just one year ago.
Nottinghamshire Police deployed 11 new Operation Reacher teams in October 2020 – each with a responsibility to proactively target local criminals and build stronger community relationships.
Gedling borough has their own dedicated Operation Reacher team, which was introduced last year.
Building on the success of the original Bestwood Reacher team, the additional units have been carrying out early morning raids on suspected drug dealers, hunting wanted suspects, taking illegal vehicles off the streets and visibly patrolling in local neighbourhoods.
In their first full year the teams arrested or dealt with 2,026 suspects, seized £619,000 in suspected illicit cash, and made 874 different drug seizures.
They also took 423 weapons and 569 illegal cars off the streets, and also carried out 672 searches at the homes and hiding places of suspected offenders.
Importantly, they have also attended or host 958 different community engagement events, and developed 2,205 community intelligence reports.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “When we secured funding for additional Reacher teams across each of our neighbourhood policing areas, we had a very clear vision in mind – to make life as uncomfortable as possible for criminals and to establish stronger, more trusting links with the public.
“I am delighted to say that, 12 months on, we have been successful in achieving both of these objectives. We’ve seen many hundreds of warrants executed across the county as criminal suspects have come face to face with the police in the early hours of the morning. We have also taken a very considerable number of potentially lethal weapons off the streets and seized large amounts of cash we suspected to have come from the proceeds of crime.
“All in all there has rarely been a worse time to be a drug dealer or other kind of career criminal in Nottinghamshire. All of our neighbourhood public surveys saw drug dealing as a local priority. In response we listened, used local intelligence, planned and took sustained action against those who choose to undermine local communities by their criminality. With these additional teams of officers on duty, we have continued to target those who cause most harm by a relentless focus upon individuals and organised criminals groups who have been rocked to their core by this additional attention. And that is exactly what we want – drug dealers and criminals looking over their shoulders and sleeping unsoundly in their beds.
“However, one of the things that has pleased me most about the Operation Reacher initiative is the way these new teams have thrown themselves into community engagement activities – visiting schools, community groups and an array of public events to build stronger relationships and trust. We continue to grow our numbers, recruitment is strong and we are determined to deliver on behalf of the public.
“I look forward to another successful year of Operation Reacher activities and would like to thank every officer who has helped to make this initiative so successful.”
Each operation Reacher team consists of a Sergeant and seven full-time officers.
