Nine people have been arrested in raids as part of an operation to target drug dealing in Oldham.
They were arrested when officers from Greater Manchester Police raided 9 addresses just after 6am today, Thursday 26 January 2012.
Officers from Oldham's neighbourhood policing teams launched the operation, codenamed Operation Rescind IV, as their response to concerns the community had that drug dealing was a problem and, in turn, increasing crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.
The raids follow on from Operation Rescind I, Operation Rescind II and Operation Rescind III where officers raided 16 addresses in March 2011, 15 addresses in July 2011 and 7 addresses in November 2011, to date 50 people have been arrested for drugs offences.
These arrests came after months of investigations by officers from the Oldham division and Serious Crime Division into the distribution of heroin and crack cocaine.
In the latest raids this morning, 8 men and 1 woman were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, including possession with intent to supply class A drugs, after officers executed warrants across the Oldham area.
Properties were raided in the, Chadderton, Limeside, St. Marys and Clarksfield areas of Oldham and an address in Blackburn, Lancashire.
More than 100 officers were involved in the raids and included officers from the neighbourhood policing teams, Serious Crime Division, tactical aid units, dog handlers and officers from DWP.
Extra officers from Oldham's Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be patrolling the area for today and the next few days to provide a visible presence and reassurance to the community. Drugs support workers will be involved in the operation to offer support.
Superintendent Catherine Hankinson, from Greater Manchester Police's Oldham Division, said: "Today shows that the desire to rid our communities of the blight of drugs is continuous and we will go back and keep tackling the issue in the same area as many times as necessary until the problem is dealt with.
"Residents told us that class A drug dealing was a worry to them so we have responded robustly to combat this.
"Drugs wreck lives and the crime associated with them causes misery to the whole community - so we do everything possible to find out who is responsible and put them before the courts.
"These arrests are the culmination of hundreds of hours of work by officers and our counterparts at the Crown Prosecution Service. We have used divisional and force resources to gather the intelligence we needed to take this action. It is not a quick process and we thank the community for their patience while we have been building the strongest case possible."
To report a crime call police on 101 the new national non-emergency number.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
For information about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
www.gmp.police.uk
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Crime Patrol Episode 5by setindia25,809 views
Well done, get this scum off our streets
davidwright1952 1 month ago
Well done!!!!!! GMP 1-0 Drug dealers.
BestMarinesareUK 1 month ago