Newark Police begin Operation Vow to target drug use and antisocial behaviour

Newark Police have begun an operation targetting drug use, associated crime and antisocial behaviour.

Operation Vow has seen an increase in the number of officers in Newark trained in the use of drug drive screening tests.

‘Drug wipes’ are a piece of equipment that officers can use to test drivers of vehicles who are suspected to be driving while impaired due to drug use.

On Saturday afternoon, officers responded to concerns from the public regarding a man who was demonstrating erratic behaviour, and had driven to a petrol station in the town.

Sergeant Matthew Ward said a breath test for alcohol gave a negative result.

The officers then screened the driver for drugs using a drug wipe and a positive indication for cocaine was obtained.

This was the first use of the equipment since the introduction of the Operation Vow.

The driver was arrested for drug driving and being unfit to drive offences, and has since been released while further enquiries are completed.

He will also be offered support for drug use.

Sergeant Ward said “This is a great example of how the Operation Vow initiative is making the Newark public safer by targetting those who drive while using drugs and those who are involved in drug-related crimes.”

Operation Vow was launched in response to increased levels of crimes in the Newark area.

Recorded crime in Newark and Sherwood is at its highest level for nearly a decade, figures from the Office For National Statistics show.

In the year ending June 2018, there were 8,404 crimes recorded in the district, almost 1,000 more than the previous year when there were 7,567 crimes.

Operation Vow seeks to solve the problems in the long term.