Raids thanks to public’s help

Trevor Harrison

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A VIRTUAL Home Watch scheme set up in Royton and Shaw has helped police seize tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs.

Nine warrants executed by the neighbourhood policing team unveiled hoards of heroin, cocaine and amphetamines as well as cannabis farms — with a particularly impressive haul from the Holly Estate.

Over the last three weeks, officers have been targeting drug dealers based on tip-offs from locals.

And thanks to members of the new team’s six-week old e-watch scheme, police have arrested 10 men for possession of drugs with intent to supply.

Five of those men were also arrested for conspiracy to supply and three for the production of cannabis.

Sgt Trevor Harrison (pictured, below, right) said: “Residents have provided us with invaluable information which has led to these arrests. Finally the message is getting through that if we receive information about drugs and we find it is reliable, we won’t be using the doorbell, we’ll be coming through your door.”

Inspector Karen Taylor is delighted with her team’s results and praised the public for their vigilance, as the latest figures show that there were 116 seizures of drugs in the area from June, 2010, to June, 2011, compared with 58 from June 2009 to June, 10.

Sgt Harrison added: “Since we gained extra officers it has allowed us to be more proactive in our approach.

“It is often young people who are targeted by these dealers and we will act on information we are given to make Royton and Shaw safer places.”

Ten men, all from Oldham and aged between 21 and 45, are now on bail pending forensic analysis of the drugs.