Convoys of police units pounced on a string of Lincoln properties this morning, arresting a man and two women on suspicion of crimes including weapons offences.
The Lincolnite went to a briefing at West Parade police station on Monday morning before accompanying officers, and various specialist units, on a raid in Welton Gardens in the Ermine area of the city.
Reporters watched as officers quickly surrounded the property, ramming the door and climbing through windows to surprise their suspect, but nobody was home at that address. A scene guard was later put in place.
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The majority of the departments at Lincolnshire Police were involved in the planning and the operation.
Tactical support and dog units attended two other addresses Chatterton Avenue and Lytton Street.
A suspect was arrested at Lytton Street before being put in the back of a police van. The man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.
Two women, one aged in her 20s and another in her 50s, were also arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs during Monday morning’s raids.
A number of weapons were also seized and detailed searches were carried out at all three properties.
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The raids were carried out as part of Operation Raptor – Lincolnshire Police’s intelligence-led dedicated campaign to tackle weapons offences.
Since it was launched on October 21, more than 30 people have been arrested and more than 30 weapons have been seized, including knives, guns and baseball bats.
A man was arrested after police attended an address on Lytton Street in Lincoln. Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
The action is mainly targeted in Lincoln, Gainsborough, Sleaford, Grantham and surrounding areas.
Superintendent Lee Pache. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Superintendent Lee Pache told The Lincolnite: “We are identifying people who are carrying and using weapons such as knifes, hammers, baseball bats, but also firearms to commit offences. Intelligence identified these individuals and as you’ve seen today we’re executing a number of warrants against those individuals to search, seize and arrest.
“Most recently, about 150m from where we’re stood (near Lytton Street), we seized a sawn-off shotgun that was loaded and cocked ready to go a few days ago. We’ve seized multiple weapons including knives, machetes, baseball bats, claw hammers, you name it.
“People are using weapons and carrying knives far too much, so as as a consequence of that we are pulling resources together, putting intelligence together, so that we can do something positive and and remove this from the streets.”
One of the items police used to gain entry into a property. Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Another item police used to gain entry into a property. Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Nationally and locally there has been a rise in weapons offences. In England and Wales during the year to June 2019, there was a 16% increase in possession of weapons offences.
The average number of incidents per 100,000 people in Lincolnshire involving knives stood at 35, according to figures published last month. This is a 15% increase, year-on-year.
Operation Raptor is the Lincolnshire Police response to those increases, with almost every single department at the force involved in the planning of Monday’s operation.
Superintendent Pache added: “I think what’s really important to state is Lincoln and Lincolnshire is still a very safe place.
“It is still a very rare event, but we’re not going to rest on our laurels, we’re not complacent, and because we have seen an increase, we need to do something about it.”
More raids will be carried out this week and there will be an increased stop and search across Lincoln, West Lindsey and Lincolnshire.
A 13-year-old was arrested in Grantham on October 23 on suspicion of possessing a weapon. He has been released under investigation. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Three machetes were found as part of a search in connection with an investigation into drugs supply. Two men in their 40s were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
A weapons surrender was also launched on Monday as part of Operation Raptor, in which people can hand in weapon to the county’s four main police stations.
In addition, the force’s licensing team will complete test purchasing at various stores in the west area over the next few weeks. They will also use specially-designed ‘wands’ to check for weapons among those attending bars and nightclubs.
The morning briefing. Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
The briefing was delivered by DS Andy Kirk. Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: PC 1027 Nick Schofield. Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
West Parade police station. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Media were invited along to attend the raid. Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes at The Lincolnite
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An Ingoldmells caravan park will face a near 6% pitch price hike after council bosses approved the measures on Wednesday.
East Lindsey District Council’s executive board members voted unanimously in favour of the 5.8% increase in pitch fees from January 2023, which bosses said represented around 50% of the latest Retail Price Index (RPI) figures.
Councillor Richard Fry, executive member for finance, told members: “As a key measure inflation, using the all items RPI as a basis for uplift is reasonable and proportionate as RPI increases are often the minimum increase applied to the council’s own costs.”
He said that continuing early payment discounts as part of the price list “demonstrates the extent to whcih the council values its loyal licensee customers”.
Following a question from Councillor Adam Grist, he admitted that the council would be taking a net loss on its income when further inflation was taken into next yet.
However, he said: “We do have a loyal licensee base site, and bumping it up by virtually 12% in one shot, even though that is the figure that is currently being used [elsewhere] seems somewhat unreasonable.”
Caravan owners locked in a court battle with ELDC around new limits on the age of carvaans have previously said the price hike would only serve to discourage people from coming to the site.
Stuart Allen previously said many members were “surprised” by the move.
“The site is still only occupied around 50%, with a significant number of the vans on site being directly owned and operated by the council,” he said.
“Increasing the ground rent will further encourage people to leave and discourage people to buy onto the site.
“For multiple years the council refrained from applying any increase in site rent, since COVID and the loss of vans on the site we have had inflationary increases every year.”
Twenty new electric vehicle chargers will be installed in car parks across North Lincolnshire – giving drivers unprecedented access to clean, green energy.
The project, designed to create a future-proof network of charging infrastructure ahead of the global transition to electric vehicles, has been developed with £80,000 of Government cash.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We know electric vehicles are the future of transport and, with Government cash, we have started the transition to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support the anticipated growth – clear evidence of levelling-up.
“And, at the same time as future-proofing North Lincolnshire for the global transition to electric vehicles, there is an immediate benefit to those people already driving electric vehicles.
“Many more drivers can now more conveniently charge their vehicles – and take advantage of the two hours free parking available across the area.”
Chargers in the Parishes car park, Scunthorpe, have already been installed and are now live. More are scheduled for Robert Street and Kings Street/Winterton Road car parks.
Others will follow through the summer in the car parks at Bottesford Road, Ashby; Old Courts, Brigg; Cottage Lane, Barton; Potts Lane, Crowle and Church Street, Epworth.
The council is exploring other technologies including solutions to enable access to charging points in communities where off-road parking spaces are at a premium.
Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for the environment, said: “This latest cash from Government will make a huge difference to way people travel across North Lincolnshire and further encourage the transition to electric vehicles.
“This latest project is a part of our Green Future environmental agenda – is at the forefront of everything we do, and this is a big step forward in making sustainable living accessible for everyone.
“This is a significant step-forward towards our ongoing commitment to protecting and enhancing our environment now and into the future.”
The chargers – which have been part-funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)- are all fast, 22w charging points.
An RFID card is needed for access – go to the Swarco E-connect website, which also has tariff and availability details.
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