Police continue to clean up Taunton

Another drug dealer bit the dust this week when Taunton man 44-year-old Ashley Smith from Wordsworth Drive was sentenced to 14 months in prison in Taunton Crown Court for drug dealing offences.

, He was arrested after officers executed a search warrant, under the Misuse of Drugs Act, at his address in the Holway area of Taunton on Thursday June 16th, 2011.

Neighbourhood officers from the Taunton East Police Team, supported by officers from Zephyr, executed the warrant at the address following a thorough investigation.

This was another example of the crack down on drug dealing in Taunton thanks to the  good level of relations being built up through community policing,as it was the help of the public who had suspected criminal activity at the property, which enabled the arrest.

The warrant resulted in 13 arrests including eight men witnessed visiting the property who were subsequently arrested for possession of class B drugs.

Police found a large quantity of cannabis and over £1000 in cash. Other items including TVs, PCs, games consoles, kitchen appliances and cars were also seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act as they are suspected to have been acquired through the proceeds of criminal activity. A financial investigation is now taking place.

41-year-old Nicola Smith was also sentenced  and received a nine month suspended sentence and 150 hours of community service.

DC Scott Burton said: "I am satisfied with the sentence today. Mr Smith and the activities at this address were affecting the lives of neighbours and other residents. Strangers calling and gathering at all hours can be distressing and intimidating.

"Our approach to tackling drug related crime is and will continue to be robust, as it impacts so heavily on communities. I hope our actions have demonstrated the commitment of local police to listen to and address residents' concerns.

"Information supplied by the public contributes significantly to these types of investigations so I want to thank residents of Taunton and encourage them to continue to come forward."

Inspector Stuart Bell said: "Once again, I want to reassure the public that Taunton is a safe place to live and drug related crime is undertaken by the minority and will not be tolerated."

Zephyr, made up of officers from Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, enables work across the county borders to crack serious and organised crime networks and seize the assets of the criminals involved.

Since it was set up a year ago, Zephyr is responsible for more than 60 arrests across five force areas for a range of offences, including money laundering, possession of illegal drugs and immigration related matters.

Quantities of heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis have been recovered from residential properties and the team have £13million worth of assets under restraint.

For more information, including an interactive Google Street Map which enables the public to see where Zephyr has had success arresting and charging offenders, visit www.zephyrsouthwest.com

Anyone with information about criminal activity can contact either the police on the new 101 number or the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, they never ask your name or trace your call.