Disruption of serious and organised crime in Stockport leads to three arrests

Two men and one woman were arrested during raids at four properties in the Shaw Heath, Hillgate and Offerton areas of Stockport this morning (Tuesday 20 December).

The men, aged 26 and 51, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A and class B drugs and possession of a zombie knife. The 40-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug. All three are now in police custody.

A search of all the addresses led to a large amount of cash as well as cocaine, cannabis and jewellery being recovered by police.

The activity was conducted by Stockport’s neighbourhood policing team working with detectives from Challenger’s organised crime unit and support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The disruption allowed for safeguarding interventions at one address where concerns for cuckooing had been identified.

Cuckooing involves organised crime groups who seek to exploit vulnerable adults in their own homes. The criminal networks can force their way into the property, banishing the individual into one room and leaving them scared to come out while they set the home up as a place to store and deal drugs.

Throughout the day there will be a visible policing presence with local neighbourhood officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) engaging with the community on the cuckooing signs to look out for and how to report it to police.

Detective Sergeant Lee Attenborough, of Stockport’s Challenger team, said: “Today’s activity driven by the neighbourhood policing team with our support, has been important in showing criminals that we can disrupt their drug network by striking at any moment.

“We take this action in order to make the community safer and to protect vulnerable adults who are most at risk from the harm caused by organised criminals.

“However, we can’t do it on our own. I encourage residents to get to know the signs, keep being our eyes and our ears and reporting any activity you deem to be suspicious, and just like today, we will act on it.”

These are some of the signs of cuckooing that people can look out for:

• Have you not seen your neighbour for a while? Or if you have, is there a clear change in their behaviour or routine?
• Has there been a noticeable increase in visitors to their property, perhaps at unsociable hours?
• Are the windows covered or the curtains closed at the property all the time?
• Do you see people you don’t recognise outside your neighbour’s property perhaps always talking on their phone?

If you believe drug activity or exploitation of vulnerable people is taking place in your community please contact GMP on 101 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.