Essex: Dawn raids carried out across county (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Essex: Dawn raids carried out across county

2:10pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in Local News

Officers from Essex Special Constabulary have played their part in keeping the county safe as they carried out dawn raids during their Day of Action.

 

Looking to prosecute drug-dealers, burglars and general criminals, special constables executed search warrants at addresses in Grays, Colchester, Chelmsford, Rayleigh, Harlow and Southend. Operation Witchcraft swept across the county, resulting in three people being arrested so far and drugs recovered. Raids started early, with criminals being targeted for a variety of offences.

 

Essex Special Constabulary Chief Officer Leon Dias had an excellent and dedicated team of Specials working for him and on behalf of Essex Police.

 

He said: "This was a successful day and just the start of our no-nonsense policing programme. This day will send out a strong message to criminals who think they can enter Essex and commit crime. You can’t, you won’t and if you try, you will get arrested.”

 

As well as raids, special constables joined forces with their regular counterparts during road policing stop-checks in Harlow, Lakeside and Basildon.

 

Chief Officer Dias added: "Saturday was all about helping our colleagues tighten the grip on criminals’ collars and enhance the quality of living for law-abiding motorists and residents in Essex. We also want people to know how committed Essex Special Constabulary is to making the county an even safer place to live as well as hoping to recruit more to the cause by those we engaged with during our operation.”