A new crime fighting team for the city south area says it will work with the community to tackle drug dealers, gangs and prolific burglars.
The City South’s Operation Reacher Team is one of 12 being rolled out to neighbourhood policing areas across the county.
They had a busy first week, with a number of drug warrants being executed in St Ann’s, Sneinton and The Meadows with a quantity of drugs, cash and weapons being seized.
The team is made up of a Sergeant and five Police Constables that will form a dedicated proactive team and will be based at the Riverside Police Station, which is central to Clifton, The Meadows and St Ann’s.
All of the officers are hugely experienced having worked on Neighbourhood Support Unit and proactive street teams for most of their careers.
Police Sergeant Tim Register has worked for the force for 18 years, having started his career at Central Police Station as a uniformed officer on Response before working in uniform and in plain clothes on pro-active teams in St Ann’s, Meadows and Clifton.
He’s back working in the area having worked across the county, as well as helping with cross border incidents.
The 45-year-old said: “I’m delighted with the new role and managing five Police Constables to help reduce crime in an area I’m very familiar with.
“We will be ably supported by the existing local neighbourhood team who have done some sterling work already in supporting the team and making sure we feel very much at home in the area.
“All the team are vastly experienced and have worked for the force for many years.
“There will be a combination of pre-planned warrants and operations combined with pro-active patrols, in uniform and plain clothes.
“Activity will be steered by the local Neighbourhood Police Inspector James Walker in response to the concerns, information and intelligence from the local community.”
The team carried out a drugs warrants in Hawthorn Close and seized two weapons on day one of activity on Monday, meanwhile on Tuesday they carried out a further two warrants in St Ann’s – including the one featured in the video – and arrested a man for drug offences. A large amount of cash was also seized.
The Operation Reacher team recovered a substance believed to be drugs following a warrant in Colwick Road in Sneinton on Wednesday morning.
On Thursday, the team recovered suspected heroin in a warrant in St Ann’s, which led to Tyriec Wilson, 19, of Corby Road, being charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
They also carried out a proactive drugs operation in The Meadows yesterday – and the action is set to continue as the team makes its presence felt in the community.
Sergeant Reigister is keen to state that the team’s work isn’t just about door knocking, but also engaging with local residents.
He added: “We’ve had a really exciting week. This is a really good start for the new team and gives us a good base to work from.
“Our work won’t just be executing warrants and knocking on doors though. We will be working with the local community and also engaging with them.
“Whether that be advising them of how to report crime, or doing more school visits and engaging with the pupils. It’s all about building a relationship which is so key for the operation to be successful.
“Officers will be actively out and about in the area and we will be using social media regularly to engage with the community. We are also keen to hear from the general public too directly, so please do come to us and talk to us.
“The teams will show the local community how positive policing can be and it will give a huge boost to local people living in the area.
“My main message to the local community is to talk to us. We are here for you and ultimately improve your life by reducing crime in your area.
“Tell us about the criminality that is blighting your area. What threatens you or poses a risk to your community.
“As a team we want to be driven by the local community and we all need to work together for it to be as successful as it can be.”
Local Inspector James Walker is delighted after a successful week for the new team. He added: “This is just the start of a really exciting new team in our area, which can help combat crime.
“The new resources will allow us to be more pro-active and puts us in a really healthy position regarding staffing.
“The Op Reacher team will make a real difference for our area. They will be actively targeting drug dealers out on our streets, prolific burglars and gangs.
“We will keep you updated on all our work on our social media pages, so keep an eye out for more good news soon.”
Keep up to date with the City South Op Reacher team by following the Meadows, Sneinton, St Ann’s and Clifton Police social media pages. They will be updating the page weekly with arrests, charges and further executed warrants targeting local criminals.
People can also contact the team directly on email: citysouthopreacher@Nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk
