Shropshire Star

Shropshire and Telford drug arrests on the up

Arrests for drug possession in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin have increased over the last three years, figures have revealed.

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A total of 689 arrests for possession of drugs were were made in Shropshire from 2014 to 2016, with the figure rising from 202 in 2014 to 257 in 2016. Of those figures, the arrest for class A drugs also rose with a total of 306 for the three years.

Arrests had risen by roughly 30 with 86 made in 2014, and 112 made in 2016.

In Telford and Wrekin figures varied over the three years, with a total of 615 arrests made over the time period. In 2014, 169 arrests were made with the figure rising to 242 the following year and then falling to 204 in 2016. Class A figures were up however from 42 to 87 in 2016, with a total of 197 arrests made.

The figures were released following a Freedom of Information request. Detective Chief Inspector Mo Lansdale said the figures were down to a proactive stance from the force, and they continue to work in tackling drug problems around the region.

She said: “Tackling drugs-related crime remains a priority for the local policing team and we proactively work to disrupt, deter and dismantle drugs criminality.

“We do not work in silo when it comes to protecting our communities from the harm caused by illegal drug use and we work closely with local support agencies to reduce drug usage, and thus associated crimes.

“An increase in the number of arrests can be attributed in part to our proactive stance. on working to identify offenders. Those involved in the illegal drugs trade should see this as a warning that it is only a matter of time before they are found and brought to justice. Information is vital in the battle against drug crime and we would like to praise members of the community who have come forward to report suspicions on drugs usage and crimes.”

If you do have any information about the use or sale of illegal substances you can report it to West Mercia Police by calling 101. Or if you want to give information without giving your name you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by using their website.

Further figures showed arrests for possession of cocaine rose to 43 in 2016 and the figure was at 108 for the three years. Cannabis possession arrests also rose to above 100 in 2016, with more than 300 arrests in total.

Possession with intent to supply arrests were up for heroin, but had decreased marginally for cocaine. In Telford and Wrekin cocaine possession was down, and cannabis possession rose in 2015, but was down in 2016 with 292 arrests made.

Possession with intent to supply was down in certain categories, but cocaine and heroin figures had increased.

In Dyfed Powys the numbers of people stopped for drug possession has decreased over the three years. In 2014, 1,294 people were stopped for drug possession with 215 of them being for possession of class A drugs.

The overall figure dropped in 2015 to 986, but the class A figure had risen to 248.

However last year the figure was down to 709, and class A possession figures were down to 190.