Norfolk: Police Raids Discover Machetes and Replica Guns
12 October 2012, 15:49 | Updated: 12 October 2012, 15:53
Operation Octane was carried out by Norfolk Police and found replica guns, machetes resulted in 34 arrests.
Criminals across the county were in for a rude awaking as dozens of officers took part in a series of raids as part of a targeted action day by Norfolk Constabulary.
The force-wide clampdown - codenamed Operation Octane - kick-started in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday 11 October) as doors of suspected drug dealers were forced open and properties throughout Norfolk searched.
More than 30 arrests have so far been made as a result of some 26 raids.
However the blitz did not just focus on drug related crime as officers, PCSOs, Special Constabulary colleagues and other partners continued their work throughout the day and into night to combat issues including burglary, anti-social behaviour, sexual offences and violent crime.
Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Wilson, who accompanied officers on raids in Norwich, said the idea of the operation was to put a spotlight on the work the Constabulary does every day.
“Norfolk is one of the safest counties in England and Wales for a reason and that is because we work closely with our communities to identify problems and then take appropriate action to swiftly to resolve them.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who provided assistance and gave up their time to make our job that much easier.”
Other activities included road policing operations, high visibility patrols - including Specials on horseback - in rural locations, visits to scrapyards, cycling checks, targeted patrols to prevent street drinking and drug screening and inspections at licensed premises in Norwich's nighttime economy.
The Constabulary's four-legged friends also accompanied officers on raids and were deployed in the city throughout night to assist search teams looking for drugs.
Items recovered and seized throughout the intensive operation included over 100 cannabis plants, thousands of pounds of cash and offensive weapons including machetes and replica hand guns.
Eight puppies and their mother were also found living in squalor in a raid in Norwich.
ACC Wilson, added: "We wish to make it clear to those intent on making life difficult for residents of Norfolk that such behaviour is not acceptable and they should expect a knock on their door sometime in the future."
People across Norfolk were able to hear, see and comment on the operation as up-to-the-minute messages, photos and videos were posted on the Constabulary’s social media accounts under the hash-tag #ItsWhatWeDo – highlighting that the actions taken were an illustration of what police do every day to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the county. Videos of police raids in Yarmouth and Norwich on Norfolk Constabulary’s YouTube channel have already been viewed more than 1,000 times.
Further localised updates from each of the districts taking part will be published later today and can be followed on our Twitter channels @NorfolkPolice @KingsLynnPolice @ThetfordPolice @NorwichPoliceUK and @GYarmouthPolice.
The operation supported Norfolk’s policing priorities which aimed to use resources effectively to target those crime categories and issues that cause the most harm to the people of Norfolk.