Dozens charged after three days of police action (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Dozens charged after three days of police action

7:00am Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Laura Proto

Dozens of people have been charged following a six-part operation to tackle crime in Elmbridge and neighbouring Surrey boroughs.

Warrants were executed on the final day of action, Wednesday, March 13, at addresses in East and West Molesey, Walton, Esher, Twickenham, Sutton and Egham.

The action was part of Operation Borate, a six-part series of days of actions targeting addresses and people suspected to be linked to fraud, drugs and theft offences.

In the first part of the operation on January 18, 10 people were arrested and £37,000 of suspected counterfeit currency seized, following a stop check in Stanwell.

George Willis, 18, of Thamesmead, Walton, Benjamin Shoebridge, 31, of Ambleside Avenue, Walton, and Richard Smart, 25, from Sheerness, Kent, have been charged with fraud.

Six others remain on police bail and one person was released with no further action. The second part of Operation Borate focused on the dealing of class A drugs in north Surrey, and arrests were made over three days in January and February.

The action resulted in 22 people being charged with being the supply of class A and/or class B drugs, with two others charged with theft offences.

The third part focused on theft and handing offences over two days of action.

Seven people were charged with a total of 25 counts of handling stolen property, with others being charged with drug offences and obstructing a police constable.

Thirteen other people have been arrested and released on bail.

Superintendent Jerry Westerman said: “Thirty six individuals have been charged with a large number of offences and a number of other people have been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.

“During the course of this six part operation we have seized stolen property, drugs and counterfeit currency and ensured that these are taken off the streets of Surrey for good.

“I have no doubt that the communities of Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne in particular will be significantly safer as a result of this extensive police operation.”