Police raid a property in Northdown Road, Cliftonville
Dean Kilpatrick, Reporter
Thursday, November 22, 2012
2:50 PM
The latest phase of Operation Regency was carried out earlier today
More than 100 police officers swooped in a number of dawn raids this week in the latest effort to crackdown on the menace of drugs on our streets.
Cops smashed down doors of suspected dealers in Ashford, Dover and Margate on Thursday morning as part of an on-going operation to catch those peddling their deadly wares.
At least 14 people were arrested.
Drugs including crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis were found at a number of properties targeted, whilst stolen property was also recovered.
The latest phase of Operation Regency, which targets drug dealers and burglars, sprang into life after a three month long intelligence-led investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.
Officers said street-level drug dealers "preyed on vulnerable people", and were determined to eradicate the problem from the county's streets.
Some 22 warrants were due to be executed as part of the operation.
Chief Constable Ian Learmonth said: "We believe we have successfully taken out a tier of the drug supply network in east Kent.
"This action is a victory for law abiding residents who do not want to live with the crime and antisocial behaviour associated with drugs.
"Any dealers who have not been arrested today should not sleep easy – police will find them and they will be arrested."
Suspects were taken to police stations across Kent.
If charges are to be brought against any of those arrested, they will be put up in front of magistrates via the Virtual Court Network.
The process is being used in the hope to speed up the judicial process, although critics say the system could restrict prisoners from seeking any legal advice.
However, minister for policing and criminal justice, Nick Herbert, said: "Live links free up valuable police time and resources to carry out their frontline duties and ensure crimes are dealt with more quickly and effectively.
"This is not only for the local police force but for victims and witnesses."
More than 2,500 cases have been heard through the system since it was set up in 2009, with the Ministry of Justice calling Kent "a shining beacon in the country for this technology".
Detective Inspector Tristan Kluibenschadl of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "We have a burglary problem; we have a street dealer problem in Kent, as does any other county.
"We want to lock these people up and try to reduce the effect of antisocial behaviour. It's a fairly sizeable operation, but it is business as usual for us."
In September, raids saw 14 arrests in connection with investigations into burglaries in the county.
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