MP Damien Moore joins police as they carry out drugs raids in Southport

MP Damien Moore has praised Merseyside Police officers as he joined them for a series of drugs raids in Southport on Thursday (22 October).

The Southport MP was impressed as he watched officers swoop to arrest a number of people during dawn raids which were carried out across Sefton and Liverpool.

Merseyside Police have since charged 11 people with conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs after a series of warrants were executed.

They included seven people from Southport, plus one each from Banks, Mere Brow, Formby and Wavertree.

Southport MP Damien Moore said: “Drug dealers and other criminals who blight our communities and bring untold misery to local people’s lives have no place on our streets.

“Merseyside Police officers have once again shown tremendous courage and dedication in their determination to stamp out criminality.

“Even while the Coronavirus pandemic is with us, drug dealers continue to peddle their misery.

“Our police rely on intelligence to carry out their operations. I would like to thank everyone in our community who has helped them today.

“And I would like to thank our police officers and support staff both here in Merseyside and across the UK for their vital work they do to keep us all safe.”

Merseyside Police officers attended at a number of addresses in Southport together with an address in Formby and one address in the L13 area of Liverpool.

Ten men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs while a quantity of cash and Class B drugs was also recovered.

Sefton Superintendent Graeme Robson said: “I want our communities to know that even during a pandemic our work does not stop – it really is business as usual when it comes to tackling criminals and bringing them to justice.

“We fully understand the scourge that drug dealing and the associated gang criminality has on our communities and we are determined to stamp it out.

“We have spent a considerable amount of time gathering information and intelligence in order for us to take this action today to rid the streets of Class A and Class B drugs and the people who sell and distribute them.

“It’s also important that we are able to identify the vulnerable people in our communities who are taken advantage of by these gangs and give them the help that they need.

“I hope that people feel reassured by our actions today and will continue to come forward with information about drug dealing and other related criminality in their local communities in order for us to continue to take action.”

Anyone who has any information about drug dealing or criminality in their area can DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.