UK - Police Drugs Team Vow To Seize 'flashy Cars'

[Perception Addict]

POLICE DRUGS TEAM VOW TO SEIZE 'FLASHY CARS'

FLASHY cars paid for with drugs money will be seized by police using more aggressive tactics to fight crime.

There will be more raids on suspected drug dealers in Calderdale, more covert surveillance on wanted criminals and more officers dedicated to tackling the crime which the general public see as untouchable.

The new tactics herald a key change to Calderdale CID which has been divided into two parts. The traditional 'reactive' side will remain, alongside a new 'proactive' CID team with Det Insp Tony Nicholson at the helm. Under him will be three smaller teams, each made up of six or seven detectives and police constables, headed by a sergeant.

"These changes signify a more aggressive and more robust approach to policing by CID officers. Our aim is to really disrupt the activities of criminals and let them know that we are on to them," said Det Insp Nicholson.

The new CID encompass the police division's drugs team and will mean closer working with neighbourhood policing teams and financial investigators.

Making people accountable for their assets will play a big part in the team's investigations and they will be looking to take away criminals' assets.

"There's a little used piece of legislation which will have a big impact on the success of this team," Det Insp Nicholson said.

"The law's on our side, the courts are on our side. It means we can make someone account for how they can afford their flash car, or their luxury house - the onus is on them."

He added: "How many times do you see young drivers, who've never worked a day in their life, in fancy, UKP50,000 cars? Everyone has their suspicions and sometimes they're proved right and sometimes they're proved wrong. What I'm asking is for people who have suspicions like that, to tell us about them and let us investigate.

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1270/a11.html?94570