DRUGS were seized and arrests were made during a day of action from Barnsley Central Neighbourhood police officers.
The team executed a drugs warrant on a property on Doncaster Road, where a quantity of crack cocaine was found and seized. A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.
A second drugs warrant took place on James Street, where a small amount cannabis was seized along with a significant amount of class A paraphernalia. Due to allegations of anti-social behaviour at the property and concerns from local residents, officers are now considering placing a closure order on the property - meaning no one would have access apart from emergency services and authorities.
A third drugs warrant was executed on a property where officers found a vulnerable man, who is believed to have been a victim of ‘cuckooing’. Cuckooing is a form of crime in which drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for drug dealing.
Meanwhile Ryan Houltson, 33, of Litton Walk, Barnsley, was arrested and charged with theft following numerous offences of shop lifting from businesses. He has been released on bail and will appear before Barnsley Magistrates Court on Wednesday July 10.
A 38-year-old man from Barnsley was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated assault towards a shop worker. The man is currently on police bail while Crown Prosecution Service decisions are made.
Sarah Wells, 36, of no fixed abode was arrested and charged with breaching the conditions of her Community Protection Order (CPO).
The CPO was in place following reports of Wells approaching vulnerable people and aggressively begging money from them.
Wells was remanded into custody to appear before court on Thursday June 13, when she pleaded guilty. Wells received a fine from the judge and is currently serving 29 days in prison in lieu of payment.
Wells has been issued with a criminal behaviour order which prohibits her from approaching persons unknown to her and asking for money, cigarettes or anything else in the Barnsley Public Spaces Protection Area 2019.
Sgt Matthew Wood said: “I am extremely pleased with the results of the operation, it was a busy day and my officers worked incredibly hard to achieve the results.
“We are committed to ensuring our communities are protected and feel safe visiting the town centre. Alongside the warrants and enforcement activities, our Police Community Support Officers held crime prevention stalls and hate crime awareness events at Barnsley College and the Interchange and our PCs also conducted six stop and searches in relation to drugs.
“Our warrants and enforcement activities are only possible following intelligence from the local community; we would like to thank everyone for playing their part and encourage anyone with any concerns to report them via 101.”
