ONGOING work to stamp out drug dealing and cut crime in Harlow saw multiple arrests during coordinated strikes on nine addresses.

Officers from Harlow Community Policing Team, with the support of their Operation Raptor teams and Operational Support Group, entered the properties shortly after 6am this morning, Tuesday 30 July.

Seven of the warrants were executed at addresses located around and within The Stow, Harlow, as part of an initiative launched with partners to regenerate the area.

Two linked warrants were also executed in Chelmsford.

They were carried out as part of ongoing work to disrupt gang-related activity, including drug supply and associated violence.

Across the nine addresses, officers seized weapons including an extendable baton and a knife, multiple mobile phones, suspected Class A drugs, cannabis and a four-figure sum of cash.

From one address, officers further recovered a stolen motorcycle.

Eight men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of drugs or weapons offences and remain in custody for questioning.

The wider initiative, labelled Clear, Hold, Build, is a Home Office-backed scheme bringing together public services to tackle offending and address underlying issues affecting the community in The Stow and wider Harlow.

After the seizures and arrests, officers took to the streets around The Stow to carry out wider patrols and engage with the community.

Chief Inspector Paul Austin, Harlow district commander, said: “These warrants followed weeks of preparation and intelligence building, targeting addresses we know to be associated with ongoing issues impacting on the public in The Stow.

“They were carefully planned and coordinated, resulting in a good outcome for the team.
“The warrants also followed an extensive briefing with partners including Harlow Council, ensuring we work hand-in-hand with those who know this community and its most pressing issues which need to be tackled from the ground up.

“If you deal drugs in Harlow, you will be caught. We are grateful for the information we have received from the public and a lot of hard work has been going on in the background to pursue offenders.

“Drug dealing exploits vulnerable people and damages communities. It also fuels other forms of offending from shoplifting and anti-social behaviour to serious violence.

“If anyone suspects drug dealing is taking place in their local area, please report it to us or if you’d prefer to report anonymously, you can contact Crimestoppers. The more we know, the more we can do to keep communities safe from this type of offending.”