Police raids target violent crime

Officers carried out early morning raids at the homes of suspected criminals

Weapons, drugs and cash have been seized and 62 people arrested as part of a large-scale crackdown on violent crime in South Lanarkshire.

More than 340 officers took part in Operation Fleet on Friday.

They raided the homes of suspected criminals, carried out test purchases at licensed premises and used metal detectors to search for weapons.

A home-made machete was among the offensive weapons recovered. Police also uncovered a cannabis factory.

The day of action also aimed to target serious and organised crime, domestic abuse and those committing road traffic offences.

It involved local and specialist officers from units such as the Violence Reduction Task Force, mounted and dog branches, and road policing.

The major operation is one of the largest police and partnership initiatives to target violent crime and disorder in line with the ongoing force-wide campaign against violence.

Information gathered through consultation with residents, community representatives and local businesses allowed us to target areas of concern at a local level during Operation Fleet Chf Sup Tim Love Strathclyde Police

"Working closely with our communities and partner agencies plays a key part in deterring, disrupting and detecting the type of criminality which can have a negative affect on the wellbeing of the community as a whole."

Throughout the day, officers from across South Lanarkshire targeted areas of concern in Lanark, Hamilton, Blantyre, Uddingston, Bothwell, East Kilbride and Rutherglen which had been identified by local communities.

South Lanarkshire Council's Trading Standards and Environmental Services, British Transport Police, Security Industry Authority, immigration officials and the Vehicle and Operators Service Agency also backed the operation.

In an early morning raid in Rutherglen more than 315 cannabis plants were discovered at a property. A 41-year-old man was arrested in connection with the haul.

Elsewhere officers confiscated a four-figure sum of money under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Metal detector

At Hamilton Sheriff Court and the town's railway station more than 340 were scanned using a mobile metal detector in a bid to reduce the amount of knives and other weapons on the streets.

A large number of warrants were executed, curfew and domestic bail checks were carried out.

Police and licensing board staff visited 203 licensed premises and carried out test purchases.

Throughout the day and night, high visibility uniformed police and plain clothes officers patrolled the streets on foot, while road policing carried out checks at sites across the region, targeting uninsured drivers.

Ch Supt Love added: "Information gathered through consultation with residents, community representatives and local businesses allowed us to target areas of concern at a local level during Operation Fleet.

"Issues such as antisocial behaviour, gang activity, youth disorder and road safety, combined with the many illegal activities which help fund serious and organised crime such as drug dealing, were all actively and effectively targeted as they no doubt have a detrimental effect on our community and the fear of crime."

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