Hucknall drugs arrests: Three suspected dealers arrested in police dawn raid

Local officers have initiated a new three-step approach initiated by the Home Office, to drive offenders out of the Broomhill Road area of Hucknall, tackle related anti-social behaviour, and boost residents’ confidence in reporting to the police.

The Clear, Hold, Build initiative – replicated with great success by police forces across the country – first seeks to clear criminals and their associates from the area.

The area will then be held and stabilised through high-visibility police patrols, assistance from partner agencies, and community support.

With support from key stakeholders, residents will then be equipped and empowered to build a strong and resilient community, free from crime and exploitation.

The Broomhill Road area has been chosen to address residents’ concerns about drug-related crime and antisocial behaviour, to disrupt cross-border criminal activity from Nottingham and Bulwell, and to bring additional resources to the area.

The first raid took place this morning (Monday) at an address on Thorn Grove in the town and resulted in three people being arrested.

Further raids and police actions are exepcted in the Hucknall east area over the coming weeks as part of the new operation.

Insp Chris Boylin, Ashfield District commander, said: “This is a three-pronged approach to solving problems in local communities and we’ve identified Hucknall east as an area where we can have a significant impact.

"We’re tackling all aspects of crime that affect the communtity and surveys we’ve carried out highlighted drugs, anti-social behaviour (ASB), inquisitive crime and vehicle crimeas their main concerns for the area.

“We’re focusing on on drugs for the first days of the scheme because we know that with drugs, there are things that go hand in hand with that, such as ASB and the inquisitive crime users will commit to fund their habits.

"Once we’ve cleared this particular area, we can create a sterile area to bring partners in to make it better.

"We’re going to be working practicially in the area in the coming weeks to make some impact on the issues people have reported to us and there will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming weeks.”