Problem-solving plan tackles drug-related crime on Sutton estate

Ashfield Police’s Sutton neighbourhood beat team has spent the past year working on an ongoing multi-agency problem-solving plan for The Leamington Estate – an operation drawn-up a response to growing community concerns over drug-related issues, specifically drug dealing and cuckooing.

Cuckooing is when drug dealers take over a vulnerable person’s home in order to use it for criminality, such as using it as a base to prepare and sell drugs from.

Since the plan was initiated, multiple strands of activity have been actioned within the estate, with significant progress achieved through strong partnership collaboration.

Positive enforcement results have already seen 16 warrants executed at properties identified as a result of drug supply investigations, disrupting criminal activity, and seven closure orders successfully undertaken at addresses where warrants were executed, providing respite to vulnerable residents

Around 30 arrests to date have been made as a result of the operationarge quantities of drugs, as well as weapons, being taken off the streets. During one raid, 500g of cocaine and 500g of cannabis were seized, with approximate street values of £50,000 and £7,000 respectively.

Many more drug seizures have been made, including ecstasy tablets and amphetamine.

Weapons seized during raids have included knuckle dusters, swords, imitation firearms, and improvised weapons

Addtionally, nine community protection warnings, two civil injunctions, and one criminal behaviour order have been granted against high-risk offenders

The Sutton beat team, working closely with Ashfield Council and housing providers, have since jointly developed a dedicated multi-agency flat situated within Jephson Building on Jephson Road.

The property had been subject to a closure order by Nottinghamshire Police and the force worked with the council to enable this new co-location Leamington Partnership Hub to be provided.

The purposes of the hub include providing a visible and consistent partnership presence in the heart of the problem area, enabling police, housing officers and the community protection team to work closely together to enhance safety in the area and rapidly respond to emerging issues, as well as acting as a natural deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour due to increased visibility and accessibility of services.

It has also enabled police and partners to engage more frequently with residents and address issues at the earliest opportunity.

A further positive development, as part of the wider problem-solving plan, is the creation and rollout of the ‘Vulnerable Adults in Lemo’ (VAL) scheme.

This scheme aims to identify specific vulnerable adults living within Jephson Building and the surrounding area ns establish routine welfare checks by beat officers, including informal visits, conversations, and supportive engagement

It also provides early identification of safeguarding needs, allowing for appropriate referrals and multi-agency intervention and build resident rapport and trust in local policing.

PC Molly Kent, the problem solving coordinator for the area, said: “The results we’ve achieved to date through our collaborative problem-solving approach clearly show that it is having a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of many vulnerable residents."

Sgt Tim Hather added: "Our new partnership hub is real win-win for all involved.

"For our local residents it provides an excellent deterrent, and for our officers it is a convenient local base enabling us to spend more time in the local community.

“Tackling drug crime and anti-social behaviour are key local priorities and I hope our ongoing work across the Leamington Estate reassures local residents that we have listened to the concerns they have raised with and that we will continue to take action with our partners to tackle them together, to further strengthen community safety and wellbeing.”