Operation Kettering – drug dealers sentenced for a total of 48 years near Southampton

An operation targeting a criminal network of drug dealing in the north east Hampshire area has seen 18 people receive custodial sentences totalling more than 48 years.

Operation Kettering was a year long intelligence led operation targeting known drug dealers in Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet, Farnham, Camberley, Ash and London.

A total of 23 people have now been dealt with at Winchester Crown Court with most of them receiving prison sentences.

Detective Constable John Gilliland, officer in the case for Operation Kettering, said: "These results send out a clear message to anyone who is thinking of bringing drugs into north east Hampshire that the police and the courts take this sort of crime extremely seriously and you will receive a substantial prison sentence.

"The purpose of this operation was wide-ranging; firstly, to target those transient dealers from London who were taking advantage of our geographical vulnerability by travelling into north east Hampshire to provide dealers in the area with their drugs.

"Secondly, to remove the dealers based within our communities who are supplying the addicts, who in turn commit offences such as burglaries and vehicle crime to fund their habit.

"Even though some of the sentences may appear light, almost all of the people we charged were remanded into custody and spent at least five months in prison before appearing in court.

"If you want to spend some time in prison then come to our area because we will take you out.

"Tackling drug dealing remains the number one priority for us and we will continue to target anyone who comes to the area. The ethos here is that we will catch the dealers and you will be punished.

"The impact of drug taking is far reaching and can affect the whole community. Drug users are often not in regular employment and steal to fund their habit, and the more desperate they become, the greater the severity and amount of crimes they will commit.

"The devastation caused to the victims of their crimes, and also their own families, is unimaginable.

"The purpose of this operation was to disrupt the drugs supply network by removing drugs at their source. However, this is not a one-off.  We will continue to target those dealing drugs; on the street and in their homes. The message to dealers is clear - you are not welcome here."

Surrey Police assisted the operation as part of their continued drive to work with neighbouring forces to target cross-border criminals.

Detective Inspector Martin Goodwin, from Surrey Police, added: "Drug dealing is an issue that affects the whole country. These results show how forces can successfully work together to target dealers who seek to cause harm in our communities. 

"Through Operation Shield, Surrey Police relishes the opportunity to work with other forces. We've embedded five intelligence officers in neighbouring areas, including one in Aldershot who works full-time with colleagues from Hampshire. This improves the way we share information and allows us to jointly target offenders who travel to commit crime.

"These partnerships have already led to a number of arrests and I'm warning criminals operating across borders that many more operations like this are planned for the future."

For more details visit : Hampshire Constabulary.

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