A SPECIALIST drugs operation was carried out in Tavistock on Saturday night (November 18) resulting in the arrest of three teenagers on suspicion of supplying drugs.

The operation, which involved 15 police officers, and included the search of two local licensed premises and open spaces in Tavistock, was organised in response to concerns about an increase in drugs related offences in the area.

It is hoped the operation will send a clear message to the public that ‘drugs will not be tolerated in the town’.

Three teenagers were arrested following a search of The Meadows — which had been identified as a potential location for night-time drug use — and the area of Tavistock Primary School.

Police carried out a stop and search exercise and a 16-year-old youth was arrested in The Meadows after suspected cannabis leaf was found, along with other drug paraphernalia and documentation.

Within 30 minutes, two more youths were arrested in the car park of Tavistock Primary School.

Police said the youths had been arrested in relation to the suspected supply of drugs.

The police then carried out drug searches at two pubs in Tavistock, backed by four officers from the specialist Force Support Group and police dog handler PC Steve Waters and his sniffer dog. No drugs were found at the premises but police did arrest two men following a verbal assault on police officers at the second pub on West Street, Tavistock.

Sgt Pennie Channing, lead in charge of the operation entitled Pubs Against Drugs (PADS), said: ‘The designated premises supervisors of local pubs are aware that we may undertake these operations at random times and are generally very supportive as they don’t want customers under the influence or dealing drugs in their premises.

‘This kind of operation generally takes forward planning to ensure that we have sufficient appropriate resources — primarily we go on the availability of the passive drugs dog. We are fortunate to have good support from our special constables in West Devon and we had four volunteering on this operation.

‘The passive drugs dog is taken into licensed premises to try and detect drugs on those present inside. It is resource intensive due to the potential for evasion and also resistance by people carrying drugs who want to evade detection. Most people understand why we are doing it, while others, don’t always appreciate what we are doing to try and reduce drug possession and supply in their town.

‘This type of operation has been run in West Devon before and is likely to be run again in the future, where necessary, in response to intelligence reports or an increase in drugs related crime reports.

‘Overall the night was a success. The arrests of the three youths will hopefully steer them on to a better path and send a message to others and to the public that we won’t tolerate drug possession or supply in the town.

‘It was a shame that the search of the second premises had to be aborted because of the abusive and violent behaviour directed towards officers, including our specials who do not get paid for their time. The fact that no drugs were detected during the first premises search suggests that perhaps the problem is not as bad as some may say.

‘Overall our primary aim as police officers is to preserve life and protect the vulnerable. Drugs can cause terrible damage to peoples lives in many ways and this operation is just one of many ways that we seek to protect the community in which we work.’

• Pick up a copy of this week’s Times to read reporter Lindsay Turpin’s personal account of the operation.