Tamworth Blog

Operation Nemesis

This morning, Tuesday December 1, Staffordshire Police arrested 13 people on suspicion of supplying heroin and cocaine, after series of dawn raids across the town.

The raids come after months of detailed investigation and planning by the forces Serious and Organised Crime Department and Trent Valley Division and involved around 200 Police Officers who targeted addresses across Tamworth in what is described as the biggest Police operation in Tamworth’s history.

Whilst the early morning raids were focussed on enforcing the law and taking drug dealers off the streets of Tamworth, Staffordshire Police and a number of partners are working together to provide support and services to those who have been effected by drugs in Tamworth.

The raids took place just before dawn across multiple addresses in Tamworth, including Stonydelph, Bolehall, Amington, Leyfields, The Leys and Glascote as well as the town centre itself.

Police Entering the Property in Bolehill

Accompanying the Police to the scene of one of the raids on Bolehill we were invited to see the operation in action.

The raid took place at 6.40am in Bridgewater Street, with Police making their way through and searching the property.  Whilst the person they weren’t on the scene, Police found drug paraphernalia and the search of the property was still on going.  To aid the search Officers used sniffer dogs as well as a traditional search.

However, the Police received information on where their chief suspect was and an arrest was made just around the corner from the property raided during the early morning operation.

As part of the operation, each location Police Officers raided saw a flag bearing contact details and operation details erected, allowing neighbours to understand what was happening and of course, hopefully seeing more people come forward with more information.

Property Raided in Bolehill

Speaking to Tamworth Blog, Assistant Chief Constable, Mick Harrison said:

“This morning has gone pretty well, we have carried out a series of warrants across Tamworth today and it appears to have been a successful morning, targeting drug dealers who have been bringing misery to Tamworth residents.”

When asked about why Staffordshire Police chose to focus on the drug problem in Tamworth, Assistant Chief Constable Harrison continued:

“We have surveyed a lot of the community and they say the dealing of drugs is one of those problems. It’s part of our service to react to these problems.

“We have been working on this for some while collecting intelligence, turning that into evidence and this is the final stage, carrying out 17 raids across Tamworth and the Midlands.”

One of the men arrested in this mornings raids

The raids are the first stage of the operation in Tamworth, the next stage is engaging communities and working with partners to assist those who have been effected by the drugs in Tamworth.  Assistant Chief Constable Harrison continued:

“Enforcement is the first stage, we want to galvanise communities to show we are responding to their concerns, but we also working with other partners including Tamworth Borough Council and Health Partners who assist with the treatment. So those who are effected by drug addiction can get into programmes and get treatment to get off drugs.

“It’s not just about enforcement but also the treatment of those on drugs.”

The raids though aren’t the only events to happen today, the Police will be visiting Schools to talk to school children about the evils of drugs.  Assistant Chief Constable Harrison continued;

“Our officers and PCSO’s will also be going into schools talking to young people about the evils of drugs.  It is a joined up package to tackle all aspects of drugs and drug dealing.”

The raids which were on the same scale of those made in Stoke-on-Trent earlier in the year under the Operation Nemesis, one which Staffordshire.  Assistance Chief Constable Harrison said:

“If people feel they can take the place of those who have been taken out, they best watch out, as we’ll be after them too.”

In total, the early morning raids have seen 13 arrests made across the town including:

• three men aged 19, 24 and 34 in the town centre area
• two men aged 27 and 28 in Bolehall
• a 28 year-old woman and 25 year-old man in Stonydelph
• a 33 year-old woman and 36 year-old man in Riverside area
• a 23 year-old man in Belgrave
• a 27 year-old man in Coton
• a 21 year-old man in Leyfields
• a 31 year-old man in Glascote.

All those arrested have been taken to Burton-upon-Trent Police Station to await a hearing later this week.

Following the raids, their has been a Neighbourhood newsletter distributed to more than 3,000 Tamworth homes telling residents  about today’s arrests and appealing for any more information about drug use in their neighbourhoods.

Throughout today both there are numerous partner events taking place, including a door to door campaign and a huge presence by the Tamworth Borough Council Street Scene team and wardens throughout the town.

Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust will also be boosting capacity to assist those whose lives are being blighted by drugs.    Both are working in partnership with the Police to identify where resources would be best targetted in assiting those who are suffering from drug misuse.

Stuart Poynor, Chief Executive of the South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust, said:

“We fully endorse the actions taken to tackle drugs misuse which we know destroys families and damages communities.

“The NHS in South Staffordshire is working in partnership with police to target resources where we will make the most difference because we want to ensure that people receive support to successfully complete treatment and re-establish their lives.

“Our priority is the health and well being of the people of South Staffordshire.”

Sue Parkes, Head of Substance Misuse Services for South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, added:

“We provide the direct clinical care for those suffering from drug misuse so we know from first hand experience, the misery drugs bring to individuals and families.

“Our clinical staff, including doctors and nurses, assess and treat individuals according to their needs.

“The treatment is based on rehabilitation and recovery and with clear action plans involving patients and their families, which are regularly monitored by clinicians.”

Police are still appealing for anyone who suspects activities linked to drug dealing in their neighbourhoods to contact them either on 0300 123 44 55 or call Crimestoppers for free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more information on drug support and treatment services in Tamworth, drug users and their concerned relatives can call: