Airport dogs lead Newport drug op

Specially-trained drug dogs led 28 police officers through the streets of Pill on Saturday as part of a large-scale drugs crackdown.

The patrol was part of Operation Prudent, which aims to address concerns raised by members of the Pill community and to restore pride in the area.

Local people have voted to make drug supply and use a policing priority in Pill at PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings.

Two passive drug dogs - a Labrador and Spaniel - and their trainers were loaned from South Wales Police to be used for the first time in Newport. Passive drug dogs are usually seen in airports and sniff out drugs as people pass them.

The dogs sit in front of anyone on whom they scent drugs, allowing officers to stop and search them.

Of the 13 people stopped and searched, two were arrested and cautioned for possession of small quantities of cannabis. Another person was given an £80 fixed penalty notice for possession of cannabis. Officers also gathered intelligence logs for Operation Prudent.

Sergeant Sarah Davies, who coordinated Saturday's operation, said: "We are aiming to stop the supply and use of drugs in Commercial Road and surrounding streets. I would like to thank South Wales Police for lending us the passive drugs dogs and for helping us to use this tactic during Operation Prudent.

"The Policing Pledge states that officers should be visible for 80 per cent of their working time, so the amount of officers who were out on the streets of Pill on Saturday will reassure the community that we are acting on their concerns.

"We have the support of the vast majority of people in Pill and the feedback received is that they are very happy with the work we are doing."

Ed Watts, chair of Pill Community First partnership board, said: "We hope to see more of this kind of operation happening in Pill. We know we’ll never do away with drugs, but we are working together in partnership to make sure drugs do not become part of the culture here. The work Gwent Police is doing in Pill to answer community issues is outstanding."

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