Intelligence Policing by Detective Sergeant Paul Jones
Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog. My name is Paul Jones, I am the Detective Sergeant for the Eastern Intelligence Unit (EIU).
Well, this week has been a busy week of warrants.
Operation Galaxy, a joint force operation targeting drug supply into Wrexham and Glasgow by a suspected local organised crime group (OCG) ran this week, in which a total of 13 people were arrested across the UK.
It saw North Wales Police working with Police Scotland, Cheshire Constabulary, Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police, and the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) to execute a number of warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected drugs conspiracy.
Around 120 officers were involved in the five-month long operation that took place over two days on Tuesday, February 14th and Thursday, February 16th.
A total of 15 properties were targeted in areas including in Wrexham, Glasgow, Merseyside, Cheshire and Manchester, where quantities of drugs, cash and mobile phones were seized.
I was present at two warrants in the Wrexham area and whilst at the addresses, my team and I spoke to locals in the community giving reassurance that in North Wales, we don’t tolerate drug crime.
If you have any information in relation to drugs supply or county lines, please call NWP on 101 or report it anonymous to the independent charity, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
You can read more about the operation here: Joint force operation targeting drug supply into Wrexham and Glasgow results in 13 arrests | North Wales Police
In other news… I have received funding to trial a dedicated team to tackle problems in the eastern force area, which I have initially named as the ‘Community Response Team’ (CRT).
It will be made up of a team of two PCSOs and two Police Constables, with pretty much no remit!
The team’s aim is to address current issues that are harming our communities, to tackle anti-social behaviour, burglaries and other problems.
The trial will be over a two-day period, where the Detective Inspector and I will evaluate the staff who participate in the trail.
This week has involved a meeting with partner agencies in relation to joint operations in the near future.
I have spoken to my colleagues from the Border Force, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and both Wrexham and Flintshire County Councils.
By working together to solve problems ensures you as the public get the best service, targeting problems both locally and nationally.
I would like to ask for your assistance in tackling a force wide problem - off road motorbikes.
Over the past few months, we’ve been made aware of people causing significant problems by riding these bikes that are not meant for road use in our cities, towns, and villages.
PCSOs have been given DNS spray to tag illegal off-road bikers in a new clampdown. This spray is unique in that a PCSO can spray the rider and this can help in identifying the person responsible at a later date.
It is an Elite offender marking spray and its uses are to deter and detect criminal behaviour.
These sprays are a new and modern way of tackling other offences such as robbery, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
What I would like you to do if possible, is send us a picture or video of the bike being ridden. These pictures can be used to seize these bikes under various acts including Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2014 if they cause harrassment, alarm and distress. In addition, the police have powers to seize uninsured vehicles and bikes being ridden on the road under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
As these bikes are meant for off road use, the people responsible for riding these bikes DO NOT have insurance and in most case DO NOT have a valid driving licence. Again this is a clear reason to seize the bike. In some cases these bikes are often stolen, and used to commit other offences.
Can I ask, that if you know who in your community is riding these off road bikes, please let us know.
Can I also bring to your attention to reports in neighbouring forces of a group of individuals targeting vehicles to steal catalytic converters.
A bit of knowledge for you – a catalytic converter is part of your exhaust system. The function of a catalytic converter is that it converts toxic gases and pollutants into less harmful emissions.
The only problem with these devices is that they contain precious metals, which are more expensive than gold.
Can I ask that you consider where you park, making use of streetlights and lit up areas during dark and in the day use carparks in busy areas covered by CCTV.
Look after yourselves and your community.
Until Next week.
Thanks, Paul.