Police raids aim to end town's hard drugs trade

By aali alex ali aali@heraldexpress.co.uk

A SERIES of drugs raids across Paignton yesterday will signal 'the beginning of the end' for the resort's heroin trade, senior police officers say.

Police targeted suspected heroin dealers in the street level operation which followed months of intelligence gathering.

Officers in stab proof vests and body armour carried out five separate, simultaneous raids in Paignton during the day.

Afterwards senior officers said a raft of new measures are being put in place to prevent criminals moving in to fill the gaps in the drug trade.

Early yesterday morning, heavily-equipped officers from specialist Tactical Aid Groups and plainclothes officers in unmarked cars left the town's Southfield Road police station just before 9am after being briefed.

Police raided a house in Elmsleigh Road where they arrested four men on suspicion of alleged possession with intent to supply after seizing 30 '£10 bags' of a substance believed to be heroin.

In another raid in Brixham Road, officers arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of Class A drugs.

A 38-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were also arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs in Mead Lane.

Raids were also carried out in Dartmouth Road and Nightjar Close. However no details of those raids were available for release by the police after a total of six warrants were executed and led to seven arrests.

In other raids it is understood a quantity of pills and a number of mobile phones and cash were seized.

Insp Glen Mayhew said the simultaneous drugs raids had created a 'massive gap' in Paignton's drug trade adding: "Everyone concerned with heroin in Paignton will feel the effect of the operation, whether they are supplying this highly addictive and lethal drug or buying it because of their damaging and saddening addiction."

Police say the planned operation after months of intelligence gathering was the start of a 'committed and targeted' approach to tackling anti-social behaviour linked to the drug addiction and drug dealing in the town.

Businesses in the town centre will be briefed by police about improvements to CCTV and the networks of town centre alleyways that have historically been 'safe havens' for drug dealers and drug users because of their 'secluded location' so that Paignton's heart becomes a place that can 'thrive economically'.

Insp Mayhew said: "We have found a direct link between tackling drug dealing and tackling anti-social behaviour, and the real uniqueness of this operation is that other assets will come in now that this has been completed to make sure the impact lasts for much longer.

"I want to say that this is the beginning of the end for the drug trade in Paignton. We want a new start and are putting measures in place to make that a reality."

Those arrested in connection with Operation Blaze will also be offered drug treatment.

"Whether people face criminal charges or not, they will be offered drug treatment, because it has to be about solving the problem too, as well as responding to the fears and concerns of residents who want to live peacefully in their homes," added Insp Mayhew.