Operation Vulture: Police make 15 arrests in Bridgnorth county lines crackdown
Fifteen people were arrested and more than 200 cars were stopped in a major two-night police operation in Shropshire
The cross-police force sting was the latest attempt to clamp down on 'county lines' gangs who travel from cities to Shropshire to set up drug dealing operations and was set up in response to an increase in crime in Bridgnorth.
Led by West Mercia Police, officers from neighbouring forces Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police were involved in arresting five theft suspects and two suspected drug dealers as part of Operation Vulture.
During the operation, nine vehicles were seized for having no insurance and seven people were arrested for driving under the influence of either drink or drugs.
Bridgnorth Safer Neighbourhood Team sergeant, Chris Thomas, said: "It's been great that we've been able to work closely with our neighbouring forces to target those criminals who think they can travel throughout the region and into our county to commit crime.
"By working together we've been able to share information to make sure we are sending a clear message to those who are causing the most harm in our communities."
County lines
The two-day operation follows previous schemes carried out in Bridgnorth and Craven Arms targeting criminals travelling into rural areas to commit crime.
Sergeant Thomas added: "I hope our rural communities feel reassured about the work we're doing to disrupt criminals and help keep them and their property safer."
This work comes after Shropshire’s Safer Communities group officer, Andrew Gough, said he was concerned with how many gangs are operating in the county recruiting young and often vulnerable people to deal drugs as part of county lines.
He told a meeting of Shropshire Council’s Communities Overview Committee, that it was of major concern to authorities.
He said: “We are seeing many gangs coming in from the big cities and infiltrating our communities.
“They are coming from the likes of Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Liverpool mainly.
“They are setting up County Lines drug rings.
“We are seeing young people moving in and recruiting young and sometimes vulnerable people to help them sell drugs in rural communities.”
Organised crime
Earlier this year, West Mercia Police Superintendent Mo Lansdale said it was a major issue facing the force.
She said: “Serious organised crime is far-reaching and there are so many areas it touches.
“So many areas people will find to exploit and take advantage of people, and, not always but money is often at the heart of it."
Overnight, the Bridgnorth Safer Neighbourhood Team took to social media network Twitter to reveal the results of the operation.
The SNT stated: "Twitter embargo lifted! Last 2 nights policing operation across West Mids /Staffs/ West Mercia. Couple of hundred cars stopped, multiple arrests, cars seized. #saferroads #arrests #CountyLines."
