If the plan was to keep whatever was going on behind the front door of a Royston flat under wraps, it has to go down as a failure.
Neighbours couldn’t help but notice the antisocial behaviour at the address in Mill Road.
They passed on their concerns to the police, who carried out further investigations that justified a search warrant.
And when officers armed with a warrant smashed their way in on Friday, they even invited the local newspaper along.
Crow reporter Rebecca Day was included in the team which mounted the raid – a joint venture between the Royston Safer Neighbourhood Team and the countywide Operation Scorpion – and saw at first hand police delight as they discovered a stash of drugs and dealing equipment.
Operation Scorpion’s Sgt John Vine enthused: “This is gold, it really is. You don’t usually find a place like this. You’ve got what is being dealt and what is being used to wrap them in and the scales to measure them out. This particular scene isn’t normal. To get this level of evidence is quite unique, I haven’t seen it in a long time.”
When the team entered the flat, the living room table was covered in small bags of cocaine, with dealing paraphernalia laid out next to it. They also discovered weighing scales, cannabis and deal bags.
Sgt Vine said the operation would have been impossible without support from the public. He said: “We need a series of information, which is why it’s good that reports have been coming in, they are really important to us, without that information, we wouldn’t be able to do this sort of work.
“The magistrates are keen to help us sort out problems affecting normal people, so they are more inclined to issue warrants to us on the back of information coming from the public. People are our eyes and ears, without that information we are pretty helpless at times.”
After the suspect had been taken into custody, the rest of the team methodically searched the flat, checking every nook and cranny.
PC Richard Boot said: “You have to search everywhere. Some people hide drugs in the top of door frames. I’ve found drugs in a baby’s cot before.”
PC Mark Ellwood, who led the operation, said: “Drug related crime in Royston is low and to keep it that way we are determined to deal robustly with anyone believed to be involved in such offences.
“Through our own investigations and information from the public, we can work together to keep Royston safe and I would strongly encourage people to always report suspicious activity to us should they come across it.”
Operation Scorpion is Hertfordshire’s initiative to drive down serious-acquisitive crime, relentlessly pursue criminals, bring them to justice and make the county a more hostile place for them to operate. The team targets burglars, robbers and those involved in drug and vehicle related crime. Activity is focused on those criminals causing the most harm to our communities through a wide range of proactive work carried out by police officers and staff across the county.
Crime or suspicious activity can be reported on 101 or 999 if an offence is in progress. Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A 44-year-old man has been released on police bail and is due to return to Stevenage police station in August.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here