Three drug-related arrests in Yeovil on day of action

THREE people were arrested today (Wednesday, April 24) by police in Yeovil following two warrants carried out at addresses in the town in connection with drug offences.

One was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B drug and two were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

It was all part of today’s National Rogue Trader Day under Operation Liberal. Police services all over the country joined forces with Trading Standards, HM Revenue and Customs, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, VOSA, and local businesses to hunt down distraction burglars, catch rogue traders in the act and warn potential victims as well as giving people advice about how to protect themselves.

A total of ten people were arrested in Avon and Somerset for burglary, handling stolen property, fraud and possession of drugs.

Warrants were carried out across the force as part of the day of action. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cars have made 150 stop checks of suspect vehicles.

Trading Standards are investigating seven incidents of suspected rogue trading and people were reported for traffic offences. HMRC gave out fines after stop checking vehicles found to be running on Red Diesel.

Legitimate builders were quizzed by officers to gather information on rogue firms where staff never finish work and cheat people out of thousands of pounds.

Superintendent Keith McCoubrey, who leads the fight against distraction burglary and rogue trading in Avon and Somerset, said: "We are on a mission to stop these despicable criminals conning our most elderly and vulnerable residents out of their life savings.’’

Rogue trading involves over-charging for incomplete or poor work, or taking money for work that is never done.

Distraction burglary involves criminals posing as officials from utility companies or making up stories to get into your home and steal from you when you are not looking. Statistics show that in areas where rogue traders are operating reports of distraction burglaries go up.

Across the force officers visited banks to make them aware of elderly residents looking to withdraw large sums of money unexpectedly as they may be victims of rogue trading.

In Somerton, officers were out and about making pre-announced door to door visits to advise elderly residents about crime prevention and, in Yeovil, neighbourhood teams held information stands in doctor's surgeries.

Anyone with information which could help police in investigations can contact local officers on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

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