Police net 13 arrests in series of dawn raids
POLICE warned criminals that the pandemic will not stop them fighting against drugs as they knocked down doors of suspected drug dealers across Southport.
The force carried out a series of dawn raids across the town last Thursday and this Monday, charging 18 suspects after recovering a haul of drugs and cash.
The early morning activity saw doors kicked down at 15 properties suspected of being linked to drug dealing. The majority of those took place in Southport, as well as some in Formby, Liverpool and Lancashire.
After the first raids, Sefton Superintendent Graeme Robson told the Southport Visiter that the flurry of activity was just part of a long series of investigations to tackle drug supply across the town.
Supt Robson warned the raids should come as a warning that those peddling drugs will not be tolerated and that others should not aspire to follow in their footsteps.
He said: “I want our communities to know that even during a pandemic our work does not stop – it really is business as usual when it comes to tackling criminals and bringing them to justice.
“We fully understand the scourge that drug dealing and the associated gang criminality has on our communities and we are determined to stamp it out.
“We have spent a considerable amount of time gathering information and intelligence in order for us to take this action today to rid the streets of Class A and Class B drugs and the people who sell and distribute them.
“It’s also important that we are able to identify the vulnerable people in our communities who are taken advantage of by these gangs and give them the help that they need.
On Friday, a total of 11 people were charged with conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs between July 1, 2018 and October 23, 2020. They are: Nathan Ball, 32, of Canning Road; Peter Ball, 25, of Canning
Road; Kieran Bradshaw, 25, of Ovington Drive; Kane Doherty, 25, of Kensington Road; Jordan Gelling, 29, of Lytham Road; Jesse Fashoni, 25, of Bridge Grove; Arlie Bailey, 19, of Knowsley Road; Lewis Appleby, 26, of Glebe Lane, Banks; Daniel Crompton, 20, The Marshes Lane, Mere Brow; Thomas Rigby, 27, of Bull Cop, Formby; and Lee McCrystal-Cole, 22, of Pighue Lane, Wavertree, Liverpool.
Rigby was also charged with conspiracy to import Class B drugs between January 1, 2020 and October 23, 2020. Days later, 22-year-old Cara Wilding and 37-year-old Patrick Hill, of The Larches, Hawarden, Flintshire, were charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
In the second phase of the operation on Monday, a further four warrants were executed at addresses across Sefton and Lancashire.
Phillip Taylor, 36, of Station Road, Banks; James Nixon, 46, of Old School Close, Banks; and Will Gardner, 24, of Hoghton Street; were all arrested and have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs between 1st July 2018 and 23rd October 2020.
Brandon Culshaw, 22, of Blackgate Lane, Tarleton; and Stuart Stirling, 26, of Canning Road; were also charged with conspiring to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
A 51-year-old woman and and 33-year-old man were separately arrested and released under investigation.
Supt Robson said that while Southport may not see as much violence and gun crime linked to drug supply as other parts of Merseyside do, the damage caused by drug use remains a serious threat and will continue to be challenged by police. The pandemic will also not allow them to reduce their focus, he added.
“The bottom line is we can’t do this kind of action without the public. They are our eyes and ears and we need them to come forward.”
Anyone with information about drug dealing or criminality in their area can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.