Police vow to target Market Drayton drug dealers

In the past few months several police raids have been carried out targeting drug dealers in the town.

In October a 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drugs offences after police carried out a raid at a house in Frogmore Road.

Officers seized various suspected drugs which were believed to have a street value of about £1,400.

It came just three weeks after officers carried out a similar drugs raid at a property in Beechwood Court.

A thorough search of the property was carried out but no drugs were found and no arrests were made.

Constable Mick Sturland, from the Market Drayton Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "We can all do our bit to assist in reducing crime and disorder and I don't want Market Drayton to be known as a hotspot for crime, drugs or anti-social behaviour. Warrants will continue to be executed against known drugs dealers and we will be targeting bogus callers, burglars, travelling criminals and metal thieves."

Constable Sturland added: "2013 has thrown many challenges our way and we have had to deal with unprecedented budget cuts as well as moving to a new station building, losing members of the team, major enquiries, floods and other challenges that have seen police stretched to the limit.

"A lot is planned for next year and we hope to bring some well overdue changes to the way we police Market Drayton and the surrounding areas.

"The national Pubwatch scheme has been re-launched in the town with nine premises issued with radios in direct contact with the police and each other.

"This means that violence and anti-social behaviour should be addressed more promptly and eradicated. We have plans to kickstart Neighbourhood Watch as well as a re-branded and re-invigorated Shopwatch scheme too. We will be out and about much more than before utilising the mobile data terminals, meaning we can access all our IT systems on the patch."

Meanwhile, on New Year's Eve, two arrests were made throughout the night in Market Drayton.

One male in his 20s was arrested for being drunk and disorderly, while a teenage female was arrested for assaulting a police officer.