From: Swindon Advertiser
TWENTY people were arrested and 2,000 counterfeit cigarettes were seized during a full weekend of police action.
The four-day project, part of Operation Harness, took place in and around the town from last Thursday to Sunday.
Operation Harness is a long-term police exercise combining existing initiatives across all arms of the service.
Its elements include using information from the public to execute warrants, as well as areas of policing such as ‘night time economy’, anti-social behaviour and traffic issues.
The four-day operation encompassed a variety of issues including trading standard seizures, parking patrols, a raid on a brothel, immigration arrests, drug patrols, alcohol awareness information and cyclist safety.
Over the course of the operation 20 people were arrested, 18 of whom have been charged for various offences including possession of class B drugs, theft, having counterfeit cigarettes, possessing an offensive weapon, illegal immigration and intent to supply.
Seventeen street warnings were given, 2,000 counterfeit cigarettes and, £1,200 in cash were seized and alcohol was confiscated on five occasions.
Twelve warnings were given people cycling on pavements, 29 drivers were written to after their vehicles were found to be displaying valuable items or were unlocked, and stolen property was recovered, including a camera, mobile phones, a satnav, a bike, an iPad, an ATM card and cash.
Inspector Mark Wilkinson from the Force Community Safety Team at Wiltshire Police was in charge of the four-day operation.
He said: “This was an intensive operation which had a strong community focus to it.
“This operation had two main objectives – to detect crime and disorder but also to garner information from the local communities about what matters to them the most and how Wiltshire Police can work with them to tackle the issues most prevalent in their neighbourhood.
“This operation was successful in terms of achieving both these objectives.
“Community-led intelligence is a crucial part of local neighbourhood policing and we strive to have the best working relationship possible with all of our local communities.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire Angus Macpherson said: “Working with communities and partners to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in our communities is one of my six key priorities, so I was pleased to support this operation at the weekend.
“I joined police and partners, including an alcohol awareness charity, in Swindon on Saturday evening who were engaging with people and offering them useful advice about the impact of excessive drinking on their personal safety.”
Operation Harness encompasses the whole of Wiltshire Police – involving officers and staff from across the organisation, Chief Constable Pat Geenty and Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire Angus Macpherson.
It also involves working alongside several partnership agencies including local councils, the Swindon Community Safety Partnership, Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership, housing associations, charities and community groups.
