Machetes, Mischief and Misguided Criminals – Officers Stay One Step Ahead

Officers from the Piccadilly Gardens Neighbourhood Policing Team have carried out a series of proactive operations over the weekend, resulting in multiple arrests and charges across a range of offences.

On Friday, PC Simm arrested an adult male after he was observed acting suspiciously in the area. A search was conducted, resulting in the discovery of an ecstasy tablet. The male was arrested and later issued with a conditional caution following interview. Elsewhere, PC Zamecnik arrested an adult male who had breached immigration bail conditions after failing to engage with Immigration Enforcement following illegal entry into the UK. He was also found in possession of cannabis. He has since been bailed while immigration proceedings continue.

In a separate incident linked to Operation Sycamore, officers arrested a male child found in possession of a machete. He has since been charged with possession of a bladed article and bailed to attend court.

Saturday saw further proactive policing activity. Officers working under Operation Venture arrested an adult male in possession of a knife. He has been charged and bailed for the offence. Shortly afterwards, PC Duffy and Sergeant Wyatt arrested two adult males on suspicion of drug offences after witnessing suspected drug dealing. Both individuals have been charged and bailed. PC Simm also made an additional arrest of a male found in possession of a small amount of cannabis, who has since been charged.

Later that day, PC Zamecnik located and arrested an adult male in possession of a knife. Further checks revealed he was wanted in connection with a serious assault in the London area. He has been remanded and is due to appear in court.

Today, PC Duffy arrested a female who had been wanted by the team for several months in connection with shoplifting offences. She remains in custody awaiting interview.

Sergeant Jon Wyatt said:
"This has been an extremely proactive weekend for the team, with officers working tirelessly to target those involved in criminality and keep the public safe. From removing weapons from our streets to tackling drug offences and locating wanted individuals, this work sends a clear message that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in Piccadilly Gardens. I’m proud of the team’s efforts and the impact they continue to have in the area."