West Mercia Police carry out operation in Herefordshire

A total of 17 people were arrested yesterday (February 28), with 15 suspects interviewed. Out of those, six investigations have started, six have been bailed for further enquiries, and one suspect was sent to court.

What was seized

An estimated £5,000 worth of drugs were seized, as well as £14,400 of illegal items. The latter included 766 packets of illegal cigarettes, 34 pouches of illegal hand-rolling tobacco, 46 illegal vapes, two offensive weapons, nine mobile phones, and seven bottles of alcohol spirits.

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West Mercia Police's chief officers, including Deputy Chief Constable Richard Cooper, joined Task Force and CID on the warrants, where he arrested one person in Kingstone on suspicion of dealing Class A drugs. Two offensive weapons were also seized.

These weapons were found at a home in Kingstone. The axe and BB gun were seized. (Image: Hereford Times)

He also joined officers at a warrant in Red Norman Rise, in The Furlongs, Hereford, where suspected ecstasy tablets were taken away for testing.

Suspected ecstasy tablets were found at a home in Hereford (Image: Hereford Times)

Police search a bird cage (Image: Hereford Times)

The warrants were part of Operation Forefront, which focused on people wanted for crimes including fraud, theft, assault, arson, domestic violence, and those wanted in court.

Patrols carried out

Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) also carried out patrols engaging with the community, as well as targeting shoplifters in Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster, Bromyard, and Kington.

Road policing units supported them with speed enforcement activities at known hotspots, with officers engaging with the farming and rural communities. 

Officers also made 580 visits to community premises and signed up 165 people to the Neighbourhood Matters website to keep them informed of the latest policing matters where they live. A total of 415 Neighbourhood Matters surveys were completed, as well as school engagements and six community partnership events.

"Law-breaking will not be tolerated"

Herefordshire Local Policing Commander, Superintendent Helen Wain, who joined officers on their patrols, said: “Yesterday saw Herefordshire LPA showcasing the work we carry out to protect the communities we serve not just on days of action like this, but 365 days of the year.

“Law-breaking of any kind will not be tolerated by West Mercia Police, and I hope this intensive day of action will send that message to would-be criminals.

“As always, the public we are here to protect and serve, have a very important part to play in helping to keep crime out of our communities across Herefordshire, as they are our extra eyes and ears in the continuing fight against criminals.”