'We will use all the powers we have'

Chief Superintendent John O'Hare

As we approach national ‘Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives’ week, Rochdale police have a lot on their hands. Rochdale Online News reporter Kirsty Rigg finds out why our local bobbies are playing tough…

Conventional knowledge has it Rochdale’s drug scene is one of significance. It has indeed been noted as a priority crime for the town’s police officers, whose recent work has proved a great success in penetrating the underground community of drugs.

Cannabis farms have been detected at locations across the borough; officers have uncovered them in Castleton, Shawclough, Bamford and Spotland, in the past few weeks alone.

A number of houses have been targeted in early morning raids, the police successfully arresting a number of the borough's serious dealers and users.

Rochdale has, so far this year, witnessed one of its largest drugs operations, with 21 arrests, and the recovery of £60,000 worth of cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin.

In Middleton, the Neighbourhood Policing Team recovered drugs valued around £150,000 from homes across the town following a series of police raids in April and May.

In Heywood, during the same period, officers recovered drugs valued over £110,000.

Operation Perryville has already shown promise to those who want to see an end to a long-standing problem, and Chief Superintendent John O’Hare says the hard work will continue.

He said: “The issue of drugs is taken very seriously and as a force and as members of the community we have to protect locals from drug-related crimes.

“We will use all the powers we have to remove these dangerous individuals who distribute heroin and crack cocaine on our streets.”

Rochdale Borough Council, NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, and Rochdale Borough Council are also involved in the crackdown.

Jeanette Staley, Acting Community Safety Manager at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Our priority is to make Rochdale a safer place for people to live, work and visit – that means there is no place for drugs.

“We are committed to working with our partners to minimise the damage drugs do in our communities. We do this by providing high quality drug rehabilitation services and through tough enforcement action to tackle drug supply and drug-related crime.”

Success in Rochdale

Involving 160 officers, the two-day raid came following months of planning, evidence gathering and undercover surveillance.

21 arrests have been made, and £60,000 worth of drugs have been seized.

Success in Heywood

In April and May officers from Heywood Neighbourhood Policing Team recovered drugs valued over £110,000 from homes across the town following a series of police raids.
On 24 May, these raids led to the arrest of a 29-year old man after officers found a huge haul of cocaine at his home address in Summersgill Close.

In April a 22-year old man was arrested after plants were discovered in two bedrooms and the garage of a property at Newbury Grove and a further cannabis farm was found at an un-occupied house on Willow Street.

Success in Middleton

This year there have been many successes in the number of cannabis farms being recovered and confiscated in Middleton.

In April and May officers from Middleton Neighbourhood Policing Team recovered drugs valued around £150,000 from homes across the town following a series of police raids.

On 23 May, the raids led to the arrest of one person after officers found around 120 cannabis plants at an address on Manchester New Road.

In April three people were arrested after 40 plants were discovered at Abbey Road in Hollin, Middleton and a further cannabis farm was found with 80 plants at Rochdale Road, again three people were arrested.