Watch: What happened on surprise dawn raids targeting suspected drug dealers in Bristol

We joined Avon and Somerset Police on the early morning operation
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‘Policcccce,’ shout the specialist officers as they burst through the front door of a bedsit on the first floor of a former pub in Filton.

Seconds later, the ‘all clear’ signal is given and a thorough search takes place of the tiny room, quickly uncovering a hard drive, two mobile phones and bank cards - more potential evidence bagged on a gang likely to be using children as drug mauls.

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It is a wet Tuesday morning, the time is 8am, and we are at one of eight dawn raids on addresses targeting drug gangs in Bristol. We’re here because intelligence has revealed that the room was the former home of a suspected drug dealer, arrested in Hartcliffe just an hour before.

The 21-year-old had moved only a week before and the officers, having arrested him, were on the search for evidence, phones in particular, to take him to court.

“I’m really happy,” says Sergeant Scott Minall, standing at the doorway to the bedsit. “We’ve got the subject from another address but we didn’t find what we wanted there, so I’m glad that we have come here under the Section 8 warrant that we have obtained and we’ve scored.”

Behind him, officers can be seen turning over the bed, checking inside empty crisp packets and going through drawers. Half an hour later they walk out with the evidence in sealed plastic bags.

Police break down the door to the a former pub in Filton as part of series of raids carried out by Operation Remedy teamsPolice break down the door to the a former pub in Filton as part of series of raids carried out by Operation Remedy teams
Police break down the door to the a former pub in Filton as part of series of raids carried out by Operation Remedy teams
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Sgt Minall adds: “It is horrific that children are being given trainers and money and being told to expect a great life, in exchange for moving drugs around local communities. That is why is is so important to get the big boys and to safeguard those people roped into this.”

The arrest and capture of evidence is one part of the success of the morning operation - led by Avon and Somerset Police’s Operation Remedy team - which ends up with seven arrests. Mobile phones, cash and Class A drugs are also seized from the addresses, which ranged from shops to houses in multiple occupancy (HMO).

Around 60 specialists police officers were involved in the co-ordinated warrants that took six months to prepare, using information from local beat teams and concerned members of the public.

The operation had started with a briefing in St Philip’s Marsh at 5.15am, and began with five raids held simultanously to keep the element of surprise. First of all, we went to an address in Hillside near Kingswood where officers arriving in full riot gear and knocked down the front door.

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Inside the HMO, officers carried out a search of a room linked to another suspected drug dealer who had been arrested at an address in Redcliffe just minutes before.

‘I’m really happy’ - Sergeant Scott Minall with one of the mobiles phones seized‘I’m really happy’ - Sergeant Scott Minall with one of the mobiles phones seized
‘I’m really happy’ - Sergeant Scott Minall with one of the mobiles phones seized

Other bewildered people living in the property could be seen coming downstairs in their nightgowns to talk to police.

Leading the operation was Detective Inspector Angela Burtonwood. She said ‘the op’ had been triggered by a rise in drug dealing in city areas like Easton.

“The communities are saying they have had enough - and with their help we’re doing what we can to disrupt the dealing,” she said.

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Like in many cities, drugs are often supplied through a County Lines system which sees vulnerable people and children as young as 10 being used to deliver substances to users or carry around cash, said DI Burtonwood. They are controlled by gang members through mobile phone lines.

Officers search the bedsit in FiltonOfficers search the bedsit in Filton
Officers search the bedsit in Filton

Once a line is cut, a new one can quickly emerge - but at least the work is disrupting the gangs and evidence collected can be used to catch those at the top, said DI Burtonwood. Figures showed that last year, Avon and Somerset Police recorded 1,267 drugs related disruptions to organised crime groups and County Lines.

Back on the road, the team of specialists officers finally head to the station to go through the evidence collected and question those arrested. They hope that their work will lead to court apperances, and prison sentences.

And they ultimately aim to relieve some of the misery placed on communities by operating drug gangs in the city.