Drug dealers using 'different tactics' to evade police, Ashfield police boss says

Speaking in his monthly Facebook Neighbourhood Policing Update Ashfield police Inspector Mark Dickson said the local criminals were increasingly using vehicles to deal drugs, rather than properties, but that didn’t mean they were still not happening.

Inspector Dickson, in charge of policing the Kirkby in Ashfield and Sutton in Ashfield area said the police had “changed tactics appropriately” and the area had seen more ‘stop and searches’ with some “really, really good results.”

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In his Facebook VLOG, on Friday, Inspector Dickson said the police were focusing on drugs and weapons being taken off the streets, knife offenders searched and arrested as well as dangerous and anti-social drivers targeted.

He said, much like the national picture “across the board” that drug dealing continued to be an issue in the local area,” but the police were continuing to “work hard” in that area.

He reported due to work of local officers, knife teams and armed response officers ‘a lot’ of drugs had been taken off the street. Despite changes in tactics, some dealing was still being done in properties and on the streets, and the police had managed several warrants and made several arrests.” He appealed for help from the public to inform of drug dealing in the area.

The inspector also reported on a crack down on dangerous driver over the weekend of Setember 4-6 where six unmarked vehicles were in the area, with officers from the road policing unit and dogs section.

Officers targeted Ashfield, including Stanton Hill, Selston and Sutton in Ashfield, Lemingon estate and Carsic, and Hucknall including Farleys Lane an area of “concern” he said. The “very very successful operation” saw lots of cars stopped and people spoken to, several cars taken off the road and arrests made, he said.

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He also reported an increase in weapons being found but assured this was not a matter for the public to be overly “concerned” as it was “generally crime related,” with people carrying knifes for “protection.”

The police are also stepping up engagement with those known to carry knives and he urged the public to inform anyone carrying a knife.