Police crack down on Newbury's drug-related crime results in 43 arrests
Police say that nine warrants were executed during the operation which ran from April 9 to 28 and the main aim of which was to tackle drug related crime, target those that supply and deal drugs in the community and act as a visible deterrent to disrupt criminal activity.
Det Insp. Clare Knibbs, of Newbury CID,said: “This operation was hugely successful in targeting alleged drug dealers and those supplying drugs in our communities. We take a zero tolerance approach to drugs related offences and this operation sends out a clear deterrent message to criminals, that we will find you, prosecute you and if you continue to re-offend, we will do everything within our power to make sure you are caught again.
“The main purpose of this operation was to respond actively and quickly to live intelligence, target alleged offenders and to execute targeted policing activity to identify and arrest those involved in the supply of drugs.
“Whilst West Berkshire is one of the safest places to live and work, our communities do not want drugs within them. Possession of drugs is a criminal offence and one that we take seriously. We will continue to take action against those that offend and if applicable, seek to seize money and property that we believe are connected to drugs related offending.
Det. Insp. Knibbs added: “We rely on intelligence from residents to tackle drug supply in our communities and I would urge our local residents to report any suspicious activity to us by telephoning the non emergency number, 10.”
Those arrested and charged include:
- A 56-year-old man arrested at Nightingales, Newbury on suspicion of possession of a class A drug, was bailed until Tuesday (13/5).
- A 26-year-old man arrested in Ewing Way, Newbury, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, was bailed until June 4.
- A 21-year-old man arrested in Wormersley Road, Newbury, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, was bailed until June 4
- A 41-year-old man arrested in Green Lane, Newbury, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs was bailed until June 4.
- A 33-year-old woman arrested in Green Lane, Newbury, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, was bailed until June 4.
- A 37-year-old woman arrested in Bodin Gardens, Newbury, was issued a fixed penalty notice for possession of cannabis.
- A 52-year-old man was arrested at an address in Springhurst, Newbury. Stuart Langworthy North was charged with one count of possession of a controlled class B drug, in relation to a drugs warrant executed at 11.40am on April 9 in Newbury.
Mr North appeared before West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on Monday April 28 and received an 18 month conditional discharge.
In last week’s Newbury Weekly News it was reported that the end-of-year crime figures to March 2014 released by Thames Valley Police (TVP) showed an increase in drug offences, to 521 from 375 in the previous financial year, which Supt. Robin Rickard attributed to an increase in detection rates.
