| Handgun found near kids' school |
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| by Scott McClymont | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 UNCOVERED: The handgun Officers swooped on homes in Tullibody and Tillicoultry in an operation that combined Clackmannanshire’s 14 community constables alongside CID and community wardens as they aimed to reassure the local community of their commitment to disrupt the illegal activities of a small network of low level dealers.
Officers from across the region gathered at Tullibody police station early on Thursday morning for a quick briefing before heading out to raid a series of properties. The first household to be targeted was in Tullibody’s Dovecot Road where police found a quantity of cannabis resin, £1300 cash and a handgun hidden under a shed thanks to the sharp nose of the force’s drugs dog. In total a small amount of cannabis resin, heroin worth £700, over £1600 of money, stolen property and a firearm and ammunition were recovered. Two women, aged 43 and 23, appeared from custody at Alloa Sheriff Court in connection with drugs offences. A 57-year-old man will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with the cannabis resin recovered. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the authenticity of the firearm. As officers raided the properties, community wardens patrolled the surrounding area informing neighbours of events and reassuring them of the action being taken to clean up their community. Community warden supervisor Paul Hamill said: “It is very important that everyone in the community works in partnership and that’s why we attend community meetings to hear their concerns. “It is all about reassuring the public that action is being taken and we get a positive response from people on a day like today.” Months of hard work from Tullibody community constables Cathy Sharkey and her new colleague Alasdair Goldie helped carry out the raids along with vital information provided by concerned members of the local community. Speaking after the raids PC Cathy Sharkey said: “Operations like this are vitally important because it reassures the local people that we are addressing problems they are telling us about. “I’ve only been in Tullibody for a short time but I realise what a big problem drugs are in this community and it is part of my job to help address those issues. “The relationship between ourselves and the local community is key because without their information we wouldn’t be able to do things like this. “I’d ask them to remember that it may take time for us to act on the information they give us. But rest assured we are listening and operations like today let the drug dealers know that we know where they are and what they’re up to.” Clackmannanshire Community Policing Sergeant Craig Rankine said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to disrupt a small network of low-level dealers. This operation has shown all the community wardens and constables working together as a team and that is what they are. “Amongst the Tullibody PACT priorities was to deal with drug related crimes and offences and our teams will move throughout Clackmannanshire wherever there are problems. “Although we are pleased with the end result it is not the be all and end all for us. I hope that this will reasure the public and I assure them that the information they pass onto us is never ignored.”
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