Community-Led Intelligence Helps Officers Make Arrests on City Patrols

Police officers covering the Bargate and city centre areas have made multiple arrests following a series of incidents over the past two days, including suspected drug supply offences and the successful search for a missing child.

Officers were conducting foot patrols across several neighbourhoods, including city parks, St Mary’s and the Holyrood Estate, after receiving information from members of the public. During a welfare check at a block of flats, officers encountered a man behaving suspiciously.

The individual was detained and searched under drugs legislation. Officers discovered approximately 40 individually wrapped deals of suspected synthetic Class B drugs concealed in his jacket. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. Further checks revealed he was also wanted on several serious warrants in London and had been outstanding since late last year. He has since been remanded in custody and is expected to appear before the courts.

In a separate incident, officers were deployed to The Polygon area to help locate a missing child. The boy was found safe and well shortly afterwards following a coordinated search involving response and neighbourhood policing teams.

While continuing patrols in the area, two officers encountered a male in Craven Walk, St Mary’s, who was suspected of openly supplying drugs. He was detained and later searched in custody, where officers reportedly found around 40 wraps of suspected crack cocaine and heroin. The 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and remains in custody while enquiries continue.

Police say officers have also been carrying out ongoing investigations, stop-and-search activity, high-visibility patrols and community meetings aimed at addressing residents’ concerns and tackling crime in the city.