Two drugs dogs named Reggie and Elsa have helped police arrest 13 people for a variety of offences in Scunthorpe.
As part of a collaboration between Humberside Police and the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), officers from the Scunthorpe Urban Neighbourhood team have been conducting high-visibility patrols around hotspot areas in the North Lincolnshire town, with Reggie and Elsa and their handlers leading the way.
The clever canines use their powerful senses of smell to sniff out an individual, which indicates to the officers whether or not there is a potential need for a stop. After assessing the situation, police then search the individual if they believe there are reasonable grounds for suspicion.
READ MORE:
So far, as part of the initiative, 58 stop and searches have been carried out, which have led to 13 arrests for a number of offences, including theft, breach of court orders, possession of class A and class B drugs, burglary, possession of a bladed article and domestic abuse related offences.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Tom Stevens said: “This high visibility approach not only achieves positive results but reassures our communities that you are being listened to, that your concerns or suspicions are being acted upon, and the information you provide is being taken seriously.
“Drugs bring crime and antisocial behaviour to our communities, and tackling these issues is of utmost priority to us.
“We are a community focused organisation, also committed to Humber Talking which sees us knocking on doors and listening to your concerns. I would like to reassure members of the public that we then act on this information to target those engaging in criminal activity, ultimately bringing justice to victims, and making our communities a safer and stronger place to live and work.
“Anyone with information, please talk to our officers when you see them out and about within your communities or contact us on our non-emergency number 101.
“Always call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is ongoing. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can also report via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe