Shotgun barrel and knives found by police in Sheffield pond

Officers discovered the items this week in the Arbourthorne, Manor and Gleadless areas where searches mainly focused on areas of open land where police believe criminals are hiding, stashing and discarding items.

The activity took place under the banner of Operation Fortify, a regular police blitz on organised crime.

Action on Monday was in and around Daresbury Road, on land off Spring Close View and in Buck Wood.

A container of suspected class A drugs was recovered as well as shotgun cartridges and three motorbikes, two of which have been identified as stolen.

A vehicle was also seized from St Aidens Road for no insurance and eight people were stopped and searched in the area; two were found with a small quantity of cannabis and issued cautions at the scene.

On Tuesday, two warrants were executed in Manor and Arbourthone after information was received of potential firearms at a couple of properties.

While there were no firearms discovered, a number of mobile phones were seized and there are further enquiries that will now be made.

The underwater search team were heavily involved on Wednesday at Arbourthorne ponds, where a shotgun barrel, a number of bladed articles and knives and two bicycles were recovered from the water.

The teams headed to Manor fields on Thursday for further land searches, recovering a tub of suspected class A drugs with around 60 wraps inside.

Kenninghall Road has seen a visible police presence with an open land search taking place in and around the area, with a bladed article discovered and a small container that is suspected of previously containing class A drugs.

Throughout the week there were also more 100 addresses visited by PSCOs, encouraging residents to take part in a community questionnaire, to have their say on what matters to them in their area, as well as a community engagement bus at various locations for people to attend and talk to officers face to face.

The activity also gave the force an opportunity to trial the use of drones, which will potentially become another important tool to support operational work and assist in tackling organised criminality.

Detective Superintendent Una Jennings, who led this week’s operation, said: “I’m extremely pleased of the work that’s taken place over the week to disrupt armed and organised criminals in Sheffield.

“It’s been a real team effort and I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved; officers, staff and also our communities, who have been incredibly supportive.