Knives and drugs seized in busy month for specialist team

These are some of the knives and drugs taken off the streets of Nottingham last month by a specialist policing team.

The force’s knife crime team made 22 arrests following 55 stop searches during their September patrols in the city centre and neighbouring areas including Radford, St Ann's and Clifton.

Five knives were recovered, alongside 27 drug seizures and 11 stops which resulted in suspected criminal cash being seized.

The results are thanks to targeted patrols and use of the latest intelligence to identify suspects who could be carrying a weapon.

The approach has resulted in blades being found that might have otherwise gone undetected.

Being out on the streets has also led to the team identifying other offending, including drug dealing and traffic offences, although targeting knife crime remains their number one priority.

Chief Inspector Kylie Davies, the force’s knife crime lead, said:

“These are further fantastic results for the team, which remains integral to our efforts as part of Operation Reclaim in the city centre.

"The team's regular patrols also include areas around the city where they utilise methods to identify knife carriers and keep our streets safer.

“Reducing knife crime is a force priority and the team’s proactive uniformed and plain clothes patrols, stop and searches and weapons seizures are a vital element of these efforts.

“Their work allows us to stay one step ahead of those willing to put themselves and others at risk by carrying a knife.

“Having this visible presence on the streets can have a real impact in helping to deter this type of criminality, while allowing us to rapidly respond to any offences that take place."

Incidents included:

• Six suspects were arrested and drugs and knives seized after officers from the team spotted the handle of a blade sticking out of a backpack. The arrests were made in an underpass off Randal Gardens, Arboretum, Nottingham, on 2 September. Officers spotted the knife handle sticking out of a rucksack which was hanging from the handlebars of a bicycle. When several members of the group tried to flee, another knife fell to the floor after being dropped by one of the group. Five suspects were detained, and following further searches, officers found cocaine, heroin and cannabis in a manbag, and more Class A drugs in one of the suspect's trouser pockets. Four men, aged 18, 18, 18 and 23, and a boy aged 15, were all arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of a bladed article in public and possession of cannabis. During subsequent searches of properties connected with the suspects, further suspected Class A drugs and a machete were seized and a further arrest made.
• The team arresting a suspected drug dealer after following him into a shop in St Ann's on 7 September. During searches, they fund a bundle of heroin and cocaine under the waistband of his jogging bottoms. Officers also seized a bag of cannabis, a mobile phone and cash from the suspect's pockets. A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
• KCT officers arrested a man after finding a sock stuffed with suspected cocaine when they pulled over a car in Nottingham. Officers were on patrol in Sneinton on 30 September when they had reason to stop the vehicle in Carlton Road. One man inside the car was detained while officers carried out searches. Along with the sock, which contained deal wraps of suspected cocaine and was found behind air vents in the centre console of the car, officers seized cash and a mobile phone. A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.