Operation Viper bites back at key criminals

More than 40 arrests have been made and thousands pounds worth of goods seized in Bradford during the first week of a police operation to tackle some of the region’s most prolific criminals.

West Yorkshire Police’s Operation Viper, which focuses on those profiting from drug dealing and burglary, has seen a series of raids on addresses in the area around the city this week.

Forty-one arrests have been made since Monday, while £5,000 worth of Class A drugs and £7,500 in cash were seized. Four air weapons were also recovered along with £80,000 of high value goods.

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The operation has seen officers from Crime Division, Quartz and Operations Support Services Division team up with local officers, councils and housing associations, to target and arrest the county’s most prolific criminals.

Shopping areas, supermarkets and residential crime hotspots across the county will also be priority areas.

Chief Supet David Oldroyd, who is leading the operation, said he hoped it would also transfer the fear of crime from communities to criminals. He said: “Viper will make it clear that there is no hiding place for these criminals. They will not feel safe in their own homes and we will do everything we can to bring them to justice.

“West Yorkshire Police has an ambition to be a world-class force, where our communities are safe and feel safer, and Viper will help us to achieve that ambition.”