59 arrests made following operation targeting Ipswich crime

Between September 23 and October 25, police made the arrests with drugs being seized and dangerous weapons being removed from the streets. 

The weapons seized include knives, an axe, a knuckle duster and a crossbow. 

Of the 59 arrests, 33 were in connection with drug offences and nine that were related to violence.

During this time, six people have been convicted and a further eight have been charged and remanded. 

A total of 23 warrants were executed and 104 cuckoo checks carried out - this is where people take over a person's home and use the property to facilitate exploitation and criminal activity.  

The most recent activity following this was on October 28 when 10 people were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder between October 28 and 31.

In the southern policing area, including Ipswich, violence involving knife crime has reduced by 27% for non injury and 28.2% with injury from April 2023 to March 2024 in comparison to the previous year. 

The figures without knives have also decreased with a 6.5% drop for incidents involving injury and an 8.2% reduction where there was no injury reported. 

Superintendent Andy Martin said: "This period of activity has brought some excellent results in terms of arrests, charges and seizures. 

“We know that the majority of crime takes place between individuals and groups known to each other who look to prosper through criminal activity and think little of the impact on others when their violence takes place on our streets. 

“The number of arrests, disruption to drug dealing lines and the location of dangerous weapons should rightly be seen as a positive, and forms part of our continued efforts to make Ipswich a hostile place for those responsible.

“This period of activity was set up to build on the successes already seen in the town in the past two years.”

Superintendent Andy Martin (Image: Suffolk Police) Supt Martin added: “We are under no illusions that violent crime or drug dealing has gone away, or that we can afford to take our foot off the pedal and that is why periods of increased activity such as this are so important.

“We will continue to do all we can to keep our communities safe, protect people from serious harm and prevent crime." 

An operation has also been taking place alongside the Metropolitan Police to target people involved in drug supply between Ipswich, Suffolk and the capital. 

Involving officers from a number of units within Suffolk the operation saw arrests made with 32 charges authorised and 16 drug lines disrupted. 

Tim Passmore, Suffolk's police and crime commissioner, said: "I fully support this dynamic, targeted approach being deployed in our county town and very pleased to see such positive results.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk's police and crime commissioner (Image: Newsquest)

“I hope this pro-active enforcement sends out a clear message that criminals are not welcome in Suffolk.

“As I’ve said many times before, the constabulary cannot deal with these issues alone – so I am very pleased to see this multi-agency approach.”