Inside months of raids that reshaped St Austell’s streets

A splintered front door propped against a wall, one hinge still hanging on, is not the kind of thing anyone wants to see outside their own home. It is also one of the more visible results of a run of work that St Austell’s neighbourhood policing team has just put figures on, covering everything from drug raids to court appearances over the last few months.

Drugs, weapons and thousands of pounds in cash

Officers have carried out eight positive drug warrants in the town. Each one gives them the power to force entry into a property suspected of drug activity, which is how doors like the one pictured end up propped against a wall rather than hanging on their hinges. The hauls from those warrants included thousands of pounds in cash, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis, along with stun guns and other prohibited weapons.

Alcohol taken from people linked to antisocial behaviour

Away from the warrants, more than 50 cans and bottles of alcohol have been seized from individuals whose behaviour was linked to antisocial behaviour in the town, part of a wider effort to deal with issues affecting the area.

Stop searches, arrests and prison recalls

The team also carried out 16 stop searches, every one of which resulted in drugs, stolen goods or weapons being seized. Six wanted offenders have been arrested, and three people have been sent to prison after being recalled.

More patrols, more charges, and a lot of paperwork

Alongside the warrants and searches, the neighbourhood team says it has increased foot patrols and worked more closely with local businesses, town centre security and council partners. More than 20 people have been charged and sent to court since April, which the team says amounts to a considerable amount of paperwork on its own.

Officers are continuing to ask people to keep reporting crime and ASB as it happens, saying the more that comes in, the more activity and patrols they can plan to tackle the issues affecting local communities.

📷Credit: St Austell Police