Police recovered nearly two kilograms of cocaine during an early morning raid, as a new proactive policing operation enjoyed renewed success.
The raid, which took place in Plantation Side, Radford, shortly after 6am today (Thursday) was part of a wider day of action by Nottinghamshire Police’s new Operation Reacher teams.
Officers discovered nearly two kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of cannabis, as well as heroin, amphetamines and a quantity of cash.
Sergeant Mark Southgate, of the City Central Operation Reacher team, said: “We carried out this warrant with colleagues from Warwickshire Police who had asked us to help bring a local man into custody as part of a wider operation.
“We certainly weren’t expecting to find the quantity of drugs we did so that was a nice surprise for us. All in all it was a great result for the team.”
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of drugs and remains in police custody.
At around the same time Operation Reacher officers in Mansfield were arresting a man wanted in connection with a knife attack on a woman. The 30-year-old suspect was detained at an address in Cobden Place, Mansfield and arrested on suspicion of assault. He remains in police custody.
Sergeant Jay Lee, leading the new Operation Reacher team, said: “One of the main ideas of this new initiative is that we are able to divert resources quickly to where they are needed.
“On this occasion colleagues investigating an assault were very keen to speak to a suspect and tasked us with finding him. I am delighted to say that, thanks to some strong force intelligence, we were able to do that within a matter of hours.”
The Mansfield team later recovered a suspected stolen motorcycle as they aborted a planned road safety operation to pursue its rider. After failing to stop the rider led police on a brief pursuit before abandoning the bike near Carr Bank Park, Ravensdale Road, and fleeing on foot. The bike has now been returned to its owner.
The Rushcliffe Reacher team supported the West Bridgford Neighbourhood Policing Team to execute search warrants at two addresses in West Bridgford early this morning. A 20-year-old man was arrested at an address in Trent Boulevard on suspicion of possessing class B drugs with intent to supply.
Inspector Craig Berry, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The investigation is in its early stages but the positive action taken today will no doubt cause significant disruption for local criminals and drug dealers. Acting on intelligence this morning Nottinghamshire Police have confiscated drugs and criminal property which will deprive criminals of financial benefit obtained from criminal conduct.”
“My appeal is for Rushcliffe residents to report their concerns so that we can piece together the picture of criminal activity and in doing so we will take any opportunity to disrupt and prosecute those responsible.”
Not to be outdone the Bassetlaw Reacher team arrested a third wanted suspect in as many days – a 34-year-old mam who was detained as officers carried out enquiries in Harworth.
Sergeant Tom Morgan, said: “We want the area to be as safe as possible for residents and we encourage people to talk to us when out and about and report any of their concerns to us.
“Every week we’ll be out on the ground conducting our activity and every week we aim to see results.”
Operation Reacher is a proactive policing model that has added sergeant-led teams of seven new officers to all 12 neighbourhood policing areas across the county. By responding dynamically to community concerns the ongoing initiative is aimed at building trust and confidence that the police will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with residents to make our communities safer.