Six people were arrested and 52 people were stopped and searched during a proactive operation to tackle drugs and associated violence.
A Bowie knife and quantities of drugs including cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, ecstasy and nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas’, were recovered during Operation Guardian in Nottingham city centre on Saturday night (25 September 2021).
A number of officers patrolled the streets of the city, aided by a passive drugs dog, and carried out stop and search activity, as well as engaging with people enjoying a night out.
Operation Guardian is now well established in the city centre and across other parts of Nottinghamshire and is highly successful in tackling drugs and reducing violence which is often associated with drug use and dealing in the night time economy.
One of the arrests included a 14-year-old boy who was subsequently charged with possession of a knife in a public place.
The boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court today (Monday 27 September).
He was granted conditional bail and is next due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 20 October.
Sergeant Graham Whitt, who led the operation, said: “We started our patrols from 5pm and it turned out be a very busy night in the city centre due to the Nottingham Forest versus Millwall football match, the Detonate Festival, freshers’ week and the Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk boxing bout.
“After patrolling only 50 metres officers spotted and arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of assault. Officers also arrested a youth on suspicion of possession of a knife in a public place and positive action was taken to deal with drunken trouble makers, with arrests made where appropriate.
“Our activity on Saturday night was positively received by members of the public who we engaged with and who were pleased to see us taking positive action to keep them safe.”
