Police launch new crime crackdown with drug raids across Lancaster and Morecambe

Operation Vanquish will see police tackle the crime issues that matter most to our communities from drug dealing to burglary and anti-social behaviour as part of a drive to make the county safer.

It will involve a surge of police activity with dozens of officers swooping on different areas of the county in a bid to blitz crime and associated antisocial behaviour.

Operation Vanquish started today, Monday December 6, with a series of drug warrants in Lancaster and Morecambe as well as in Blackpool.

More work is planned in the coming weeks including dozens more warrants, along with community engagement activity, traffic enforcement and crime prevention work, all designed to disrupt and deter criminal activity and keep the county’s people and communities safe.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Procter, who was out with officers overseeing the operation today, said: “Operation Vanquish is designed to tackle the issues of most concern to our local communities by taking the fight to criminals.

“The operation will see local police officers, as well as specialist officers, carrying out a wide range of policing activity designed to deter and disrupt criminal activity and keep our communities safe.

“The vast majority of people living in Lancashire are law abiding citizens who do not deserve to have their lives disrupted by the actions of a minority of offenders.

“Thanks to Operation Vanquish, offenders have no place to hide. We have significantly raised the risk of them being caught and put behind bars.”

Operation Vanquish is ongoing. Anyone with any information which may assist offenders in their pledge to combat crime, can speak to a local officer or call Crimestoppers free and in confidence on 0800 555 111.