A spate of serious and violent incidents have triggered a week-long operation from Preston Police.

Police are going to be on the streets of Preston from first-thing Monday in what they say is a response to ‘drug related activity’.

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Branded as Operation Nexus the man heading the operation chief inspector Jon Clegg said it was the start of disrupting organised crime in the city.

He said: “We have launched the week-long operation today to send a clear message to those involved in organised crime that we will not tolerate this activity in our City and on our streets.

“Although this is initially a week-long period of intense activity, we want to be clear that the work won’t end on Friday. We always have been, and will continue, to constantly target those that are involved in drugs supply, as well as the violence and anti-social behaviour that comes hand in hand with drug dealing.

“This week of action is testament to the network of community members, businesses and partnerships that provide us daily with information to target organised crime and help us protect and keep safe the most vulnerable in our city.”

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In recent months a number of incidents have taken place with significant injuries being sustained.

Incidents in recent weeks involving violence include a student imprisoned and assaulted in the university area, two arson attempts in Ingol, the stabbing of an 18-year-old man in the city centre, a pensioner robbed and attacked in his own home and a man kidnapped and beaten after being taken from his own doorstep.

Chief inspector Clegg said: We hope that by doing this activity, not only will we be able to disrupt and deal with those involved, but that we can warn and educate young people about the consequences of going down the same path.

“It’s also really important that as part of this work, communities feel stronger and more empowered to do what they can to prevent serious organised crime from becoming the community norm.

“Local people are a vital source of intelligence and they need to help us to keep them safe by telling us what they know and turning rumour into hard evidence. New technology and legislation can help us protect people to come forward who otherwise would have been too frightened to so it’s important that people know they can trust us when they have something to tell us.”

Any information can be passed to police via 101 or anonymously by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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