Video: Suspected drug dealer arrested in Lincoln police raids

A man and a woman were arrested after a police day of action and drugs raids in the Sincil Bank area of Lincoln.

As part of a continued police operation in the Sincil Bank and Portland Street areas of Lincoln, officers carried out intelligence-led drugs raids and community action on Friday, January 16.

The first raid on suspicion of drugs possession took place just after 9am at a one-bedroom flat on Walnut Place.

A 41-year-old man was arrested after discovery of a Class-A drug on the premises. On searching the property, officers also found evidence of legal highs use.

The man is presently in custody, arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. He has also been handed a community protection notice, which acts as a warning against anti-social behaviour.

A second raid took place just after 1.30pm at a flat on Hermit Street. No drugs were found on the property, however a quantity of clothing was seized as it was suspected stolen.

A woman at the property, wanted by the police for failing to appear for perverting the course of justice, was arrested at the scene.

The day of action continued with a number of ‘street surgeries’ with members of the public voicing their concerns to officers and city council staff.

A dispersal order was also put in place in response to reports of anti-social behaviour in addition to incidents of drugs use and street drinking, particularly in Hermit Street.

The order allows officers to stop search and disperse people for up to 48 hours away from the area. If they return they can be arrested. The area defined includes the whole of Sincil Bank.

Throughout the day, two people were given dispersal notices after stop searches by police.

Community concerns

Police increased their presence in the Sincil Bank area of the city in response to a rise in crime and six high profile deaths in the area in the space of 18 months.

Inspector Pat Coates, the Lincoln Centre Neighboroughood Policing Inspector, said: “Days like today send a message to the community that we are listening to them and we will take action on what they say to us.

“With the number of high profile deaths that we’ve had in the area, a lot of people are saying that they don’t feel safe. They also feel the area has changes and the population is much more transient.

“Key concerns are surrounding drugs and drug use in the area and we are working closely with the city council to make communal areas safer.

“We’ve also changed the way we police the boundaries, we have put more staff in the area and put in place an additional four PCSOs and beat manager to this area.

“Sincil Bank will remain a priority and we’ve had high level meetings with the city council directors and the area is identified as high profile to them as well.

“We do sometimes have to repeat raids at a certain address. If we find drugs we will look to the city council to take action against their tenancy and housing.

“They are sometimes removed from the premises but it’s not unusual that we have to repeatedly go back to addresses.”

PC Luke Casey, Community Beat Manager for the Lincoln Park Ward area, added: “The raids are led on the information that we receive. Warrants are carried out frequently in Lincoln and we are really trying to urge people to give us information, because the public are our eyes and ears to an extent.

“A lot of the issues that we see in this area are often largely connected to legal highs; they definitely go hand in hand. We hope that our continued action has aided the recent closure of Marleys on the High Street.”

Local resident Richard Watson, 60, spoke to The Lincolnite about the problems that he has faced in the area around Walnut Place.

He said: “The whole area has gone downhill but I won’t have to worry for much longer because I’m actually moving away. The reason I’m moving is this area.

“I’ve seen everything from drugs to violence and vandalism, cars have been wrecked, the mess in the area is disgusting.

“The people who live here are all students and foreigners, whereas when I moved here 25 year ago we knew everybody up and down the street.

“I think reporting the incidents to the police is a waste of time and effort. A few weeks ago I was threatened with an iron bar and I phoned 101, and half an hour later I’d still not got through to anyone.”