Police target crime hotspots in Wolverhampton and seize drugs and weapons arrest car theft suspects
Operation Otternova has seen four people arrested for a range of crimes in Wolverhampton.
West Midlands Police's officers have said that they are keeping up the pace as they continue to 'keep up the pressure' against criminal activity in the borough.
Operation Otternova sees police teams around Wolverhampton step up active patrols in crime hotspots in their force areas, looking out for criminal activity and disrupting criminal behaviour.
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This month has seen Wolverhampton Police team up with the Priority Crime Team, as well as the dogs, traffic and armed response units where needed.
The force said that they increase in action is part of their 'ongoing commitment' through Operation Otternova, with officers placing a focus on disrupting those who are taking part in criminal behaviour.
On Thursday, offices in Whitmore Reans saw a small quantity of drugs seized after a man in his 40s was searched in Francis Street, and a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of theft of a vehicle.
A third man, aged in his 40s, was arrested on a warrant after failing to appear at court following a store theft.
One of the earlier patrols this month also saw an amount of heroin and crack cocaine sezied and two men in their 20s arrested after a car was stopped in Blakenhall.
During related searches, officers uncovered drug paraphernalia and weapons. Both men have been bailed under strict conditions while investigations are ongoing.
The force said that the target patrols form just one part of Operation Otternova, with neighbourhood officers also being out and about on reassurance patrols and linking with community groups and local businesses.
Chief Inspector Adhnan Afzal, Wolverhampton's Proactive Crime lead, said: "Our commitment to the people who live and work in this city is at the heart of what we do. We want everyone to feel safe wherever they are but we know that some people do have concerns.
"So we have officers from across our teams targeting hotspot areas with a focus on detaining offenders who can bring misery to the communities they operate in.
"As well as making those arrests, we're disrupting behaviours and reminding everyone that criminality will not be tolerated."
