A DRUGS raid took place and a cannabis farm was uncovered as part of a police day of action to reduce crime and disorder.
As reported last night, officers carried out the operation in the St Helens yesterday, Thursday, May 13.
They were joined by the underwater search team, the mounted section and officers on quad bikes to target the town centre, parks and green spaces in order to carry out open land searches and stop searches.
Officers also worked with St Helens Council licensing and trading standards teams and immigration officers to check businesses as part of a human trafficking operation and also as part of an operation targeting rogue trading.
Searches of open land
A drugs warrant was carried out a house on Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath and 31 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug.
A 48-year-old man was arrested on Bridge Road in Clock Face on suspicion of drug driving; a 21 year-old was arrested on Jubits Lane on suspicion of drug driving and a 24 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving on Vista Road, Haydock.
All have been released under investigation.
As part of a static vehicle check on Jubits Lane, 45 vehicles were checked and two vehicles were seized for having insurance and a cannabis farm with more than 100 plants was discovered at a property in Hammond Street, Parr.
Divers at the Hotties
With the assistance of St Helens Council, officers also searched gutters/drains in and around the town centre, locating two knives.
Pictures were shared of drains on Westfield Stret being searched.
A further two were handed to officers by the cleaning crew which have been discovered in the drains this week.
In a statement St Helens community policing Chief Inspector Paul Holden said: “Yesterday’s activity came after listening to concerns from the local community about the issues that affect them most.
"We know how important it is to work with our partners in order to target issues such as antisocial behaviour and drug dealing and its associated criminality and we know, from public feedback, that our communities welcome seeing officers on the street carrying out this type of activity.
“Proactive work such as this is carried out by officers every day to ensure St Helens and the rest of Merseyside remains a safe place for our communities to live, work and visit and we will continue to listen to the public’s concerns and act on any information given to us. Information from our communities plays a vital part in bringing offenders to justice, so I would like to encourage the public to continue to come forward to us, or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously, so that we can take action.”
If you have information on criminality in your area, please contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555111.
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