Operation Vision a success
25 November 2010, 05:50 | Updated: 25 November 2010, 05:55
The latest Operation Vision “high impact” day on Tuesday (November 23rd) got off to a successful start in Luton with a dawn raid and drugs seizures.
The day, which started with the drugs raid and continued through into the late evening, is one of a series under Operation Vision.
It’s an over-arching campaign to boost public safety, satisfaction and confidence in Bedfordshire Police by tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
It is different to anything the Force has done before since the “high impact days” involve volunteer office staff and officers working side by side.
The warrants executed by police officers resulted in:
• Seized a handgun, electrical items and suspected cocaine from a property in the Midland Road area and arrested a man on suspicion of possession of a firearm, possession of drugs with intent to supply and handling stolen goods
• Seized a quantity of electrical items from another town centre property and arrested a man on suspicion of handling stolen goods
• Seized a quantity of suspected cocaine from a property in Dallow and reported two people
• Arrested a man on suspicion of burglary after a search of several addresses across town
Chief Constable Gillian Parker addressed teams made up of officers, PCSOs and civilian volunteer staff at Luton Police station before joining them on house-to-house consultations in the Challney and Lewsey area.
The team called at more than 800 houses to establish local priorities and distribute leaflets highlighting key police contact numbers, police surgeries and “Street Meets”.
More volunteers, PCSOs and officers set up stands in the town centre to canvas views on Luton’s night time economy and later the Force’s Special Constabulary launched high profile anti-social behaviour patrols in High Town and Hart Hill.
At police headquarters, volunteers and police staff contacted hundreds of residents with updates following priorities raised during the last two Operation Vision days and received much positive feedback from the public.
Insp Tania Coulling, who co-ordinated the initiative said: “Operation Vision has been another fantastic success. Not only did we make some significant arrests, but the sight of so many yellow jackets on the streets of Luton provided much public reassurance. The feedback from residents has been fantastic.”