News

14 arrested as Operation Kingsville swoops on Surrey Heath’s drug dealers

Released on 24 June 2010

Fourteen people are in custody this morning having been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Surrey Heath.

A sixteen week under cover operation led by Surrey Police culminated today in early morning raids across Camberley and Frimley to take drug dealers and suppliers off the street.

Activity started with a 4am briefing at Surrey Police Headquarters for the 90 officers involved who travelled in 11 vans. The teams including detectives, dog handlers, search teams and rapid entry units were told the aim of Operation Kingsville was to disrupt the supply of Class A drugs by targeting 11 addresses across the borough.

DI John Cable of the Operational Proactive team explained: "Today sees officers act on the information and evidence gathered over the past few months. Operation Kingsville is focused on disrupting the activities of dealers in the borough and interrupting the supply of illegal drugs.

"This action is as a result of careful, painstaking work to draw out those street level dealers who need to be flushed out of our communities. Surrey Police will be charging and putting offenders, discovered as a result of the co-ordinated dawn raids, to the courts straight away. Operation Kingsville will help in keeping the streets of Camberley and Frimley safe for residents and workers alike by bringing offenders to justice."

But the activity does not end with the enforcing of the law, the local Surrey Heath Safer Neighbourhood Team will be working closely with its partner agencies to offer help to those people who use drugs and need to break the cycle of addiction through rehabilitation and treatment.

Neighbourhood Inspector James Norbury said: "Operation Kingsville is aimed at removing the supply of drugs from the streets of Surrey Heath. Our challenge now is to prevent alternative suppliers filling the gap. We will work with partner agencies to help those users who may seek to use this time as an opportunity to stop using drugs and officers will continue to enforce the law against those who supply them.

"Residents will see first hand increased patrols in areas where there are known problems, specific targeting of locations where drugs are sold and used, together with the sharing of information with the community.

Surrey Police together with the Surrey Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), the Surrey Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (SADAS) and Surrey Heath Borough Council is committed to tackling drug problems in a consistent and continuous manner. We all play a part in battling to keep our neighbourhoods safe, clean and pleasant environments in which to live and work. Today is just the start of things to come and I would urge anyone who has any information which could help bring further offenders to justice to pass this to Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222."

The Surrey Police Drugs bus will be travelling throughout the area to enable local people to talk about any issues or questions they may have in relation to drugs in their neighbourhood.

Temporary Superintendent Ian Chandler said of the warrants executed today: "I am absolutely convinced that the action today is an effective way of reducing crime in the area - by tackling those who illegally use, supply and sell illegal drugs, especially Class A drugs we will reduce the cause of crime.

"However success in combating drug problems in West Surrey is a community issue and help from the public is vital to reduce the drug problem that blights some neighbourhoods. I would urge anyone to get in touch with police if they think they have intelligence about illegal drugs. Remember if you don't want to leave your name an anonymous call can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Huseyin Djemil of the Surrey Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) said: "Reducing the supply of drugs in and around Surrey is a key priority for the DAAT. Operation Kingsville may be visible as a police enforcement action but it is so much more.

"We have put key treatment services on alert as we expect an influx of people seeking drug treatment as a result of this operation. We want to work with drug users to get them the help they need to get them off drugs and we hope back to a more positive and productive lifestyle."

Michael Willis Chief Executive of Surrey Heath Borough Council said: "We fully support this extensive and successful operation carried out by Surrey Police, which is certain to have a big impact on drug use and drug related crime in the Borough. Along with other partner agencies, the Borough Council will work closely with our Neighbourhood Teams to ensure that Surrey Heath remains one of the safest places to live in the country now and into the future."