Swindon homes raided by police in drug dealing crackdown

After receiving reports of suspicious activity by members of the public, Wiltshire Police targeted three homes in the Swindon suburb and carried out a simultaneous raid on them. 

Phones and a small quantity of drugs were found from at least one of the properties during the operation on Thursday morning with 'similar successes' at the others. 

PC William Cooper took part in the operation and further explained what he was doing and why. 

He said: "We've been doing three section 8 PACE warrants today in relation to drug dealing in Swindon.

"We've done three simultaneous warrants all based off community intelligence that we received from members of the public and what they've seen and heard in their communities. 

"A small quantity of drugs and phones were seized from one of the properties. 

"And there's been other successes at the other addresses as well so it's been a successful couple of warrants."

PC William Cooper in Penhill (Image: Wiltshire Police)

He added: "Community intelligence is really important to what we're doing. 

"We wouldn't be able to do these warrants like we've done today without the help of the community, people phoning up and reporting what they see and hear in their communities. 

"So it's really, you know, it's vital to what we do. 

"Please report anything you see, if you see or hear anything that doesn't look right, or you've got information in relation to drug dealing in your area.

"Please just phone up or do an online crime report, and report it because if we get enough of the same intel then we will act on it and we will do warrants like we've done today.

After taking up post as Swindon's hub commander, Guy Elkins issued a similar plea to the public.

 He said: "He said: "A lot of crime in Swindon goes unchallenged. At the last public event I attended a member of the public told me she had seen some anti-social behaviour outside her address, but she didn't report it."

He added: "There are a lot of people who, clearly through their experiences in the past, have been let down by the police, they don't think there's any point in reporting things to us because 'nothing will get done about it'.

"But one call could make all the difference, and we need that information to do our jobs. Any information is so important and allows us to form that policing response."