‘We are taking action’: Police issue promise on tackling Sheffield drug gangs after shootings
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Around 100 officers were involved in a day of action in the city yesterday, which was the culmination of a six month operation around drug gangs operating in Sheffield and running ‘county lines’, which often involves young people being sent further afield to expand drug networks.
South Yorkshire Police revealed that many of the shootings on the streets of Sheffield are the result of turf wars between rival gangs.
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Hide AdThe operation saw officers raided 21 addresses across the city and making 10 arrests.
Class A drugs, thousands of pounds, a firearm, other weapons and mobile phones were seized as part of the operation.
Officers from South Yorkshire Police’s armed crime team and Operation Fortify, the force’s response to organised crime, were involved.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Murphy, of the armed crime team, said: “Drugs and violent crime are inextricably linked. We have known for some time that the firearms discharges across the city are the work of feuding organised crime groups.
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Hide Ad“The supply of Class A drugs brings violence and exploitation to our streets, and fear and intimidation to our communities. This week sees us respond on an unprecedentedly large scale, targeting county lines gangs who operate not only in Sheffield, but further afield.”
DCI Murphy added: “The past few months have seen detectives identify a significant number of drug lines operating in a relatively small area; this is what leads to turf war and the resulting violence.
“It cannot be underestimated the damage that the gangs operating these lines can really do, and I hope this week’s action by us and our partners serves to reassure communities in Sheffield that we are listening, we are taking action, and we do work relentlessly to keep the city safe.”
The operation was run in partnership with the National County Lines Coordination Centre, British Transport Police, the Home Office, National Crime Agency and the Regional Organised Crime Unit.
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