Dawn raids success (From Penarth Times)

Dawn raids success

PENARTH'S drug dealers and thieves were targeted in a series of dawn raids this week.

On Tuesday, police stormed addresses across the Vale in the eighth part of Operation Arrowhead, which so far has resulted in of 1,172 arrests since May 2003.

More than 25 people were hauled into stations across the division, making this the most successful Arrowhead operation to date.

Officers targeted criminals who make a living from stealing and selling on stolen property, feeding a market worth up to £17 million in South Wales.

In line with previous operations, known offenders were targeted, as officers executed search warrants on drug handlers, drug suppliers and suppliers of counterfeit goods.

Inspector Geraint Evans, said, "As a result of this operation, we have disrupted an organised supply of counterfeit and illegal property. Working in partnership with Trading Standards Officers, we have seized property worth many thousands of pounds to the criminal fraternity."

Police believe the public thinks buying stolen or counterfeited goods is socially acceptable - an 'okay' crime.

But most people don't realise that up to 70 percent of class A drugs are bought with the proceeds of crime. A large portion of which is bought from stolen goods.

Earlier in the week an operation targeting people committing criminal deception in relation to their car insurance resulted in five arrests. Those arrested had not declared relevant criminal convictions to their insurance companies. Police in the Vale used this innovative measure to combat areas of crime not normally in the public eye.

Superintendent Josh Jones, Divisional Commander for the Vale of Glamorgan, said, "The Vale of Glamorgan is one of the safest places to live in South Wales - unless you're a criminal. Today was about targeting those people whose criminal activity makes other peoples lives a misery."

Approximately 20,000 Arrowhead leaflets detailed with crime prevention advice will be handed to the public, urging them to tell police what they know.