Suffolk Police 'intensify' activity to tackle County Lines gangs in Ipswich
“This activity demonstrates our ongoing and relentless pursuit of offenders"
Police in Ipswich say they're continuing to 'proactively' target serious crime and violence in the town - and will be carrying out a period of what they're calling 'intensified enforcement and visibility' over the coming weeks.
The activity will have a particular focus on County Lines and related youth gang violence crime in Ipswich.
Police will be conducting warrants on properties in the town, as well as interventions and safeguarding activity in terms of ‘cuckoo’ visits (where vulnerable people are exploited by drug dealers using their property).
They'll also be conducting Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) checks on individuals known to the force.
So far, since last Friday (27 September), up to and including Tuesday (1 October), officers have made 17 arrests in connection with suspected drug related criminality, conducted six warrants, made eight visits to properties subject to suspected ‘cuckooing’ and conducted one CBO check.
"Our ongoing and relentless pursuit of offenders"
Superintendent Andy Martin, South Area Commander, said: “This activity demonstrates our ongoing and relentless pursuit of offenders and to make Ipswich a hostile place for criminals who choose to involve themselves in the preparation and selling of illicit substances, use of violence, and exploitation of those most vulnerable within in our community.
“We have come a long way over the past two years in tackling these issues and have achieved some excellent results. We want to send a clear message that we are not going to take our foot off the pedal and this surge in resources from across the county is one way of helping us to deliver that.
“We know that the vast majority of such criminality takes place between those individuals who are known to one another, but that doesn’t stop law-abiding people feeling concerned or alarmed by what they hear or see. With that in mind it’s incumbent upon us as a force to continue to proactively pursue and disrupt those who choose to blight our community."
"Dynamic, targeted approach"
Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I fully support this dynamic, targeted approach being deployed in our county town.
“I hope this pro-active activity sends out a clear message that criminals are not welcome in Suffolk.
“As I’ve said many times before, the Constabulary cannot deal with these issues alone – so I am very pleased to see this multi-agency approach.”