Arrests made as deadly weapons, Class A drugs and cash seized in police 'day of action' (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Arrests made as deadly weapons, Class A drugs and cash seized in police 'day of action'

5:02pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News By Nick Wakefield

CLASS A drugs and deadly martial arts daggers were seized in a series of police raids across Bridgwater, Burnham and Highbridge.

Five arrests for drugs offences were made in Bridgwater following raids in Hamp and Bower Manor out of 13 arrests across the three towns.

Razor-sharp ceremonial knives, a set of nunchucks and four types of drugs including heroin, cannabis and amphetamines were confiscated during the raids yesterday (Thursday).

A substantial amount of cash was also recovered, as well as drugs paraphernalia, bags and scales.

Bridgwater inspector Roger Tolley praised the communities affected for providing the intelligence needed to carry out the operation.

"The public are our eyes and ears and we are heavily reliant on people telling us, in confidence if necessary, about drug users and dealers that are the bane of every community,” he said. “We will and do respond to what they tell us, and we did so in fine style during our day of action.

"With the continued support and flow of valuable information from the public, we will be relentless in our drive to send the message to people who make others' lives unpleasant, either through selling drugs or committing crime or causing anti-social behaviour, that if you do it we will come for you."

In the wake of the raids, neighbourhood policing teams were out across the Sedgemoor district making contact with residents.

A dozen of the most vulnerable victims of crime - people who have suffered repeat burglaries or persistent anti-social behaviour - were visited by PCSOs who gave crime prevention advice and security-marked items of value like mobile phones and computers.

In Bridgwater, a police community contact vehicle was based in the town centre all day where people were given advice about dealing with anti-social behaviour and property security. Insp Tolley added: "It was a tremendously positive day of action with the whole team providing the highest quality of service to our community - as they do on all days. “We dealt with community concerns and also provided crime prevention and property-marking opportunities to almost 100 people. "We reassured, protected, responded and looked after vulnerable people as well as the wider Sedgemoor community, and dealt with a number of offenders."