A renewed focus on the supply of illegal drugs in the Gedling borough has already had an impact after successful raids on two properties within the space of two days.
Acting on local intelligence, the Gedling Operation Reacher Team and Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Team sprang into action by executing an early-morning Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at a property in Newstead where they discovered a cannabis grow in the loft.
Another grow was found in a bedroom cupboard as local officers continued to search the Abbey Road premises.
A 53-year-old man was voluntarily interviewed in relation to the discovery of 28 plants as police continue with their enquiries.
Two days earlier, on Sunday (April 4 2021), the Operation Reacher team was on the front foot again, this time putting a cannabis grow out of action in Carlton.
Following a tip-off from a member of public, officers attended a house in Southdale Road, Carlton, where they discovered the operation before dismantling the set-up, seizing about 50 mature plants as well as growing equipment.
Enquiries are ongoing to identify the people responsible for the illegal grow.
The proactive operations to crack down on the supply of drugs comes after Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Team inspector Chris Pearson reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the issue as a local policing priority during the next three months after listening to concerns raised by members of the public. The other key local policing priorities being focussed on are tackling and reducing burglary and anti-social behaviour.
This ongoing work will involve involved the Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Team, Gedling Reacher Team and Special Constables conducting a mixture of plain-clothed and high-visibility patrols in burglary hot-spot areas and increased patrols in open spaces and areas blighted by anti-social behaviour.
Insp Pearson said: “We want to send the clear message that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in the Gedling borough and we will continue to target offenders who persist in causing harm and misery in our communities.
“We are continuing to work closely together with our partners at Gedling Borough Council to tackle issues that our local residents and businesses have told us matter most to them.
“I hope the positive impact and results we’re achieving reassures the public of our determination to make our streets safer. As our recent enforcement activity has shown, we are working relentlessly to target and disrupt offenders involved in the supply of drugs in Gedling and we encourage the community to talk to us regarding any concerns or suspicions they may have regarding drugs-related criminality.
“I’d also like to reassure people that we take all reports of burglary and anti-social behaviour very seriously as we understand the detrimental impact these types of crimes can have on the lives of residents.
“We have a number of planned dedicated operations to combat these issues and we will take robust action against those responsible for committing such offences which could lead to them appearing in court to answer for their crimes.”
Photos: Cannabis plants seized from the Southdale Road address. Credit: Nottinghamshire Police
