Police and Council enforcement officers seized counterfeit items, illegal e-bikes and recovered drugs as part of efforts to drive down crime and make communities safer in Coventry.
Dozens of officers took part in a citywide operation yesterday, starting with dawn raids on suspects and running into the night with armed patrols targeting people linked to gangs and serious and organised crime.
The operation tackled a wide range of the crimes and nuisance anti-social behaviour issues that impact communities the most, working with partners from the City’s Community Safety Partnership and including the city Network Rail, Business Improvement District staff and more – resulting in arrests.
A targeted operation in the city centre focused on the illegal use of e-bikes which has been a concern for people. Specialist police motor cyclists on off road bikes assisted local police officers, community safety wardens and neighbourhood enforcement officers resulting in 9 e-bikes being seized. This enforcement has followed ongoing engagement with e-bikers to explain the law and impact of dangerous cycling. Positive feedback from shoppers and businesses was overwhelming.
Some of the e-bikes seized taken off the streets are capable of 60mph speeds.
The work also included joint operations with British Transport Police to disrupt those involved in County Lines at the city’s train stations.
#OpAdvance | Officers from our Hillfields neighbourhood team also conducted raids on 4 business premises as part of a multi-agency operation, targeting the sale of counterfeit goods.
The operation, which involved Trading Standards officers from Coventry City Council, resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of illegal products.
During the raids, officers confiscated hundreds of illegal vapes, counterfeit cigarettes, and illicit tobacco. They also seized a large amount of illegal toys, including fakes of the popular Labubu dolls, commonly known as 'Lafufus'. The total street value of the seized goods is still being estimated but is expected to be over £15,000.
These counterfeit toys pose serious safety risks. The knockoff dolls, which are cheap imitations, can pose a serious choking risk to young children. The fake dolls can break apart easily, creating several small pieces that can become choking hazards.