Dozens of arrests and vulnerable people safeguarded following Heywood neighbourhood operation

A dedicated Neighbourhood Policing operation in Heywood has secured 55 arrests and seized more than £1.5m worth of drugs while safeguarding vulnerable people.

After identifying the scale of the issue in March last year, the local teams implemented a bespoke and direct operation within the community.

Officers began a targeted crackdown on issues relating to drug dealing within the area, which included the enhancement of proactive patrols, execution of a series of warrants, and multiple arrests.

Between March and December of last year, officers secured 55 arrests for a wide range of offences, including possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, (including heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine), modern day slavery, production of cannabis and possession of criminal property.

Many of these arrests have resulted in charges and imprisonment, with other investigations still active and ongoing.

Seizures have included drugs worth between £1.5m and £2m, weapons, illicit cash, vehicles and offensive weapons, including machetes, axes and zombie knives.

In addition to enforcement, extensive work has been undertaken to safeguard and protect vulnerable people who have been exploited by criminals within the community.

This has meant several National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referrals have been made for victims of modern-day slavery - with others also being re-housed.

With the support of GMP’s legal services team, several closure orders were granted on addresses linked to cuckooing and exploitation.

Cuckooing is when criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to deal, store, or take drugs and commit other criminal activity from the property.

Heywood officers have worked closely with the County Lines Team, the Justice and Care Charity, and partner agencies such as Community Safety, the Partnership Enforcement Team, Social Services, and Housing Associations in order to implement the best possible safeguarding procedures.

By employing a combination of criminal and civil powers, the team have achieved outcomes that have provided multiple positive outcomes.

Wider work remains ongoing however, and officers are continuing to clamp down on criminality wherever it presents itself.

Sergeant Hannah Taala, from GMP’s Heywood Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to tackling drug-related criminality and safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community.

"The results achieved so far, including 55 arrests and the seizure of over £1.5 million worth of drugs, highlight the dedication and hard work of our officers and partners.

"By targeting those who exploit others for criminal gain, we are not only removing dangerous substances and weapons from our streets but also ensuring that victims of exploitation receive the support and protection they need.

"We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt criminal networks and make Heywood a safer place for everyone.

“If you have any issues within Heywood, I urge you to get in touch with us – by attending a PACT meeting, reporting crime online or via 101, or by ringing the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”