Trainee officers get unexpected experience of drugs legislation

Trainee police officers getting to grips with traffic matters gained some unexpected experience of drugs legislation when they stopped a car in Rochdale recently.

On Tuesday 15 August 2006, a police constable from GMP's Sedgley Park Training College was out with his class of trainee police officers, who were gaining experience of dealing with road traffic offences.

The training officer heard on his police radio that a car was heading in their direction and the front seat passenger was not wearing a seat belt.

One of the trainee officers stopped the vehicle on Bury New Road, Heywood. As it pulled over, the officers saw the passenger trying to hide something in the pocket of their door.

When the passenger got out of the car, officers saw a quantity of vegetable matter in the door pocket. The passenger was arrested.

One of the trainee officers then carried out her first search of a motor vehicle under the Misuse of Drugs Act and found several bags of vegetable matter, believed to be cannabis.

Another trainee officer helped his colleague and together they found further items thought to be involved in the taking and dealing of drugs.

A quantity of cash was also seized and the driver of the car was arrested.

Two 18-year-old men from Bury have been arrested on suspicion of possession of Class C drugs with intent to supply. They have both been bailed pending further enquiries.