07 July 2011
Pressure from a major operation carried out in and around Hamilton over recent days has been such some offenders have taken the easy option and surrendered themselves to Police.
Hamilton Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said 117 officers from across the Waikato had converged on the City during a crackdown on serious offending known as Operation Providence.
"Following on from yesterday's results I can confirm another two people were arrested on warrants, another one for breach of bail, one for shoplifting, one for burglary, one for possession of cannabis utensils, two for possession of cannabis for supply, another four dealt with for demerit points and three people voluntarily surrendered themselves to Police.
"The friends and family of the three people who gave themselves up had been visited by Police over recent days and informed they would continue come to our attentions until their associates were located."
Visiting the Waikato this week, Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls, believes the success of Op Providence can be replicated around the rest of the Central-Lower North Island.
"It's all about service first, with the skills of 3000 staff able to be drawn on we're able to ensure we can get the right staff and resources to the places most needed and the community can look forward to similar operations of this nature."
Of the many themes identified during the build up and execution of Op Providence is the links between dishonesty and drug offending and the use of firearms and other weapons by offenders to protect their interests.
Mr Lindsay said this became apparent when officers, supported by members of the Waikato Armed Offenders Squad recovered a stolen mountain bike at a Te Awamutu address.
"A firearm was recovered hidden at the address as well as a machete. Later that day armed staff interrupted two men at an east Hamilton home preparing cannabis cigarettes for sale.
"Located inside the house were more drugs, a rifle and ammunition. Then at another warrant in Hillcrest, Police recovered seven firearms from an address and arrested a man who had allegedly pointed a gun at another motorist in March."
Mr Lindsay said combining the resources from across the Waikato had enabled a number of aggravated robbery, burglary, sexual assault and other offences to be resolved.
"The success of this operation means if an issue develops anywhere in our District we can, and will, deploy staff to deal with the situation."
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