Police crack down on town crime

Thursday 30th April 2009, 12:42PM BST.

One man has been arrested and six people faced having their vehicles seized in a police crackdown on crime in south Shropshire.

The blitz took place in Ludlow, Bridgnorth, and on south Shropshire roads as part of Operation Protect, which also included raids in Shrewsbury yesterday to clamp down on burglaries, thefts and drug crime.

Detective Inspector Gavin Kinrade, who led the operation this week, pledged there will be no let-up in efforts to track down suspected criminals in the county.

He said: “We want to take offenders off the streets and send a message to others that we are going to make life very uncomfortable for them.”

In a joint operation with Customs and Revenue in south Shropshire, police targeted illegal use of red diesel and kerosene. Six vehicle owners were given a choice of having their vehicles seized or paying a £500 fine.

And a team in the Bridgnorth area spent Tuesday checking for vehicles used by criminals coming into the area from the West Midlands.

Among the other people arrested were three men and two women from Shrewsbury, questioned on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply and handling stolen goods following early morning raids.

Three people were released with a criminal caution, one released without charge, and one man released on bail pending further inquiries.

A man was arrested in Ludlow on the same charges.

View more: Bridgnorth news, Ludlow news.