Police arrest six in eight-hour 'lockdown'

Hundreds of motorists were questioned and six people arrested following an eight-hour 'lockdown' while police carried out random checks in the Black Country, officers confirmed today.

Roadblocks were set up around Dudley yesterday as part of Operation Intrusive. Officers stopped a total of 365 vehicles and searched 38 people for drugs, stolen goods and banned items such as weapons. Drug-sniffer dogs and trading standards officers were among the teams checking cars.

One vehicle was seized for having no insurance, and trading standards identified the owner as being suspected of running an illegal business using it. They have now launched further investigations.

Sgt Richard Evans, from Brierley Hill Police Station, said the event — which took place between 2pm and 10pm yesterday — had been very successful.

"This was a successful operation and an excellent example of police working with other organisations such as trading standards," he said.

"Yesterday's activity formed part of an operation aimed at reducing serious acquisitive crime across the borough. Police utilised a number of tactics including the execution of drugs warrants and the use of 'lockdown' roadblocks to identify people suspected of being involved in crime."

During the operation, two drugs warrants were executed at Talbot Street and Adelaide Street, Brierley Hill, and two people were arrested from those addresses on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs. They were today both released on police bail pending further enquiries.

From the roadside checks, set up in areas including Brockmoor and Pensnett, four people were arrested on suspicion of offences including possession of cannabis, drink-driving, being drunk and disorderly and public order offences.

Officers searched four cars and 24 people under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and 10 people were searched for stolen or prohibited articles.

Operation Intrusive, which was launched in January and will run until the end of this month, focuses on areas which have been identified as being vulnerable to crime, including Brierley Hill. It aims to be a deterrent as well as an operation to detect offences.