Arrests made as nine forces work together to relentlessly pursue criminals

Officers carried out stop checks and made 12 arrests as part of a three-day operation to target criminals exploiting our roads and rail networks to commit serious and acquisitive crime.

Sussex Police joined eight other forces to share intelligence and co-ordinate resources to pursue the high harm criminals this month.

The operation was designed to disrupt organised crime groups operating across county borders.

Across the nine forces there were 68 arrests made as part of the three-day period between October 10 and October 12.

In Sussex, this included the deployment of the Specialist Enforcement Unit alongside police dogs, the Immigration ICE team, and the National Police Air Service, working to catch criminals committing serious crime.

Officers in Sussex made arrests for immigration offences, drugs offences, weapons offences, and for drink and drug driving offences.

They also completed vehicle stop checks, vehicle searches, and one vehicle seizure, with weapons, cash and drugs also seized.

Meanwhile officers across the whole operation seized 26 weapons, more than £9,000 in cash, 51 vehicles, and 66 instances in which drugs were seized.

Surrey Police Detective Inspector James Ansell, who co-ordinated the operation, said: “While we work across borders and share intelligence with neighbouring forces all year-round, this operation was an intensive effort to pursue some of the south-east’s most dangerous criminals.

“Organised crime groups exploit the most vulnerable and bring violence and misery to our communities, which is why putting a stop to serious and acquisitive crime is a priority we all share.

“Our work does not stop here, and criminals should know that we will relentlessly pursue them until they are brought to justice and our communities are safeguarded from their deplorable crimes.”

Inspector Ollie Pullen from Sussex Police’s Specialist Enforcement Unit said: “In Sussex officers made arrests for a variety of offences which included drugs and weapons offences.

“It shows our determination to disrupt serious and acquisitive criminals operating on our road and rail networks, and demonstrates how we work effectively in partnership with neighbouring forces.”

Officers from Sussex, Surrey, Thames Valley, the Met, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and the British Transport Police participated in the operation.