TWO years of difficult and dangerous police work by handpicked specialist undercover officers has seen a significant hole made in the evil trade of drug dealing in Bradford.

When Asad Javed and Imran Khan, the "ruthless and enthusiastic" directors of a heroin and cocaine supply chain, were each jailed for 12 and a half years at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, it brought Operation Stalebank to a successful conclusion.

The operation had resulted in 119 successful prosecutions and the handing out of custodial sentences totalling 364 years - a "good use of police resources and public money to cure a public problem," according to the police chief in charge.

Detective Inspector Ian Bryar, of the Bradford-based Quartz team which tackles serious organised criminals, believes the lasting legacy of Operation Stalebank is the confidence of the public now to give information to police about drug dealing in Bradford.

Two years ago, senior police officers devised an unorthodox plan to get to the heart of the district's drugs problems, and so launched one of the biggest operations of its type ever seen in Bradford.

"It came about because members of the public asked us for help to tackle the drugs market, particularly around the West Bowling area," said Det Insp Bryar. "They saw the awful impact it was having on the community.

COMMENT: PARTNERSHIP OF TRUST VITAL IN WAR ON DRUGS

"Our response was to think outside the box and look at a different way of tackling the individuals responsible."

The plan was to use specialist undercover officers to infiltrate the drugs gangs and slowly put together a dossier of evidence which would lead to successful prosecutions.

Only a handful of officers were used on the ground, but a support network of staff backed them up behind the scenes, while visible police patrols continued.

Det Insp Bryar said: "The covert officers went into the communities to see where the dealers were operating and to infiltrate the network."

The Test Purchase Officers posed as drug addicts to access the "ring and bring" mobile phone lines and make contact with the dealers.

"It is extremely difficult to infiltrate organised crime gangs and it is a very dangerous tactic for the staff involved. They are putting themselves in frontline danger. But because of the skill, knowledge and experience of the officers, they managed to infiltrate the gang."

Over several months the officers built up evidence. But it soon became clear that the problem was not restricted to the West Bowling area.

"It was not going to be a quick fix. It was going to be a long-term operation, but we were committed to that. We were looking at organised crime groups, people making a living out of dealing drugs.

"The officers were working most days of the week and their investigations naturally took them to other areas, like Manningham."

Around ten drugs lines were uncovered, supplying hard drugs to probably hundreds of addicts across the district, with names like the Wacka Line, the Billy Line and the Saj Line.

The next stage of the operation was to build the prosecution cases. Police worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to prepare complex and detailed cases which would provide the evidence to obtain convictions. In the end, only two cases out of 121 were unsuccessful.

The prosecuting authorities also worked closely with the courts, which would be dealing with a huge number of cases. It was decided that the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, would sentence all cases.

The judge prepared general sentencing remarks for all defendants. He spoke of the "terrible blight" caused to society by the misuse of class A drugs and the "truly awful human misery."

To bring the dealers before the courts, police organised three major arrest phases, each lasting for a week. It required intense planning and co-ordination.

Det Insp Bryar said: "We were doing at least seven warrants a day, with an evidential package for each one. A lot of planning had to go into it."

Earlier this year police released a rogues gallery of images of ten dealers they still wanted to arrest. It was published by the Telegraph & Argus and in just a few months police had their men.

A number of significant dealers were given five or six year sentences.But the best was saved till last with the 12 and a half year sentences for Asad Javed and Imran Khan.

They were told by Judge Thomas: "You were supplying drugs with ruthlessness and enthusiasm. You cared not a jot about the people you were supplying to. You were effectively at the top of the tree for this enterprise."

Det Insp Bryar said Operation Stalebank had been a massive success. But the fight against drugs did not stop there.

He said: "The jail sentences reflect the seriousness with which the police and the courts regard the supply of drugs in the Bradford area.

"This was probably the biggest drugs operation we have done in Bradford and has had a significant impact on the drugs supply market.

"The reaction of the public to the whole operation was massively supportive. People were more willing to speak to us about drugs problems in their area.

"I would like to thank the communities of Bradford for their support, and encourage people to keep ringing us and telling us about drugs supply. Everybody has come together to tackle the drugs problem and without the public we would not have been as successful.

"I would like to think the public now has the confidence to ring us , wherever they are in the city. That is the legacy of Operation Stalebank.

"We take seriously all information we are given about drugs. It is all assessed and we will act on what we can and take positive action where we can. Operation Stalebank proves that."

Anyone with information about drug dealing can contact Bradford District Police via 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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