Councillor Lambert praises police for drugs raids

Councillor Colin Lambert

Heywood Councillor, Councillor Colin Lambert has praised Greater Manchester Police for Operation Bluebeard having witnessed first hand what he called a "professional" operation. Operation Bluebeard was an intelligence-led operation that saw officers collating information on people who distribute class A drugs in the Heywood area for several months and then a series of raids over two days that resulted in 21 arrests.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/News/news.asp?ID=4937

Councillor Lambert said: "Congratulations and a big thank you to the officers of Greater Manchester Police for the operation they carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday to tackle the issue plaguing our community.

"The extensive intelligence and planning which went into the raid paid off, with s number of suspected dealers arrested and charged.

"I attended as an observer on the early morning raids on Tuesday and was impressed with the professional way in which the officers carried out their duties. Of course before the raids could take place, much work had to be done to collect the necessary information.

"Now we need to continue the work to keep drugs off our streets and prevent more lives being ruined by drug addiction.

"It is not just the drugs issue which has been tackled but the crimes associated with drug use and such activity."