Undercover police have taken to the streets of Huddersfield to deter drugs gangs from operating and potentially targeting young people over the school summer holidays.

The Kirklees Town Centre Team has promised more action will follow after mounting a joint operation with British Transport Police to target County Lines drugs gangs and also general anti-social behaviour in Huddersfield.

It saw officers make arrests for drugs offences and order street drinkers from the town.

Plain clothed officers from both the Huddersfield Town Centre Team and British Transport Police patrolled on Wednesday August 3 as part of a regional operation running across the six weeks holidays. Uniformed officers were also deployed in the sweeps as were two drugs dogs.

During the day police stopped and searched three people under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. One was arrested for possession with intent to supply class A with the other arrested for possession of class A controlled drug.

Six people seen drinking alcohol in the street were also issued with legally enforceable direction to leave orders. One was arrested for failing to comply with the order and has now been charged to appear before the courts.

County Lines crime, is a term given to offending in which organised criminal gangs supply drugs across police force areas, sometimes approaching teenagers and children to act as couriers.

Within West Yorkshire, the force continues to operate its specialised Programme Precision operation both within Kirklees and wider West Yorkshire to target organised drugs networks.

Recent significant convictions include the conviction of a Huddersfield man who was jailed for nine years in June for using the dark web to sell millions of pounds in drugs.

Sgt Amanda Holroyd, of Kirklees Town Centre Partnership, said: “We were very pleased to take part in this operation with our partners in British Transport Police to target both drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in Huddersfield.

“The operation saw us make three arrests and also receive some very useful intelligence which will now be developed to help us plan further enforcement activity.

“Our officers have close relationships with traders and residents in both Huddersfield and Dewsbury town centres and I want to thank them for their ongoing support.”

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Supt Helen Brear, of Kirklees Police, said:  “County Lines-style organised crime is insidious and the effect on communities and the individuals caught up in this kind of crime can be devastating.

“A significant amount of work is ongoing within Kirklees to target organised criminal gangs involved in this offending and this operation is a great example of the work ongoing at all levels by colleagues in NPT and CID.

“We are regularly putting drug dealers before our courts and seeing them receive significant prison sentences.

“We would urge anyone with information about drug dealing in Huddersfield communities to contact the Huddersfield Neighbourhood Policing Team via 101 or online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat

“Information can also always be given to the independent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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