Archived decisions

POLICE OPERATIONS DURING MAY, 2007

1. At the last meeting of the Authority, the Chief Constable referred to a number of pre-planned major operations in which Hampshire Constabulary had played a major role during May, 2007.

2. On 1 May, Operation Achilles, A National Animal Rights Operation with a significant Hampshire connection took place. It was commanded and controlled from within the Force area and some 700 officers from across the United Kingdom and parts of continental Europe took part. Nationally, 32 people were arrested, 10 from within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. To date, 12 people have been charged, of whom 7 are from the Hampshire Force area.

3. On 3 May, Operation Hindhead, led by Hampshire Constabulary, took place resulting in the safe recovery of a Hampshire resident who had been kidnapped and held in another County and the arrest of his abductors. The Operation saw 40 hours of intensive police activity with, at one point over 100 operational officers actively engaged in bringing the incident to a successful outcome.

4. Operation Elmer took place on 9 May and was targeted at cannabis factories located in the south of the County and in the Dorset and Metropolitan Police Service areas. 400 officers were deployed, 25 premises searched, and 18 suspects arrested. A second phase saw 20 people arrested across the South East of England, 12 of whom have now been charged with conspiracy to produce cannabis in Hampshire.

5. The Chief Constable informed the Authority that all these Operations had occurred in just one month in the life of the Hampshire Constabulary and had been carried out alongside normal operational duties and whilst the Force was also playing a full part in ongoing national commitments by providing mutual aid or by fulfilling its commitments to Operation Safeguard which involves the accommodation of Home Office prisoners as required.

6. Members endorsed the view of the Chief Constable that this resume of just one month's activities highlighted the reality of providing a modern police service and they praised the pro-active efforts taken by his officers and staff to protect the community from a wide range of threats.

COUNCILLOR JACQUI RAYMENT

Chairman