Arrest and 300 cannabis plants seized during police ASB patrol

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Barnsley executed a warrant in Goldthorpe after carrying out ASB patrols along a popular bus route.

Some 310 cannabis plants were seized and 33-year-old Bledian Elezi of no fixed abode was arrested and subsequently charged with producing a controlled drug of class B.

They appeared at Barnsley Magistrates' Court and will next appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, October 25.

Plain-clothed officers patrolled a popular bus route through Thurnscoe and Goldthorpe across an eight-hour period last week (Wednesday, September 27) in response to ASB concerns from the community and partner agencies.

PC Oliver Hepton, one of the team involved, said: “This was not an operation to target ASB on buses, but to see just what ASB was taking place on the route the bus would travel and if any ASB was directed towards the bus.

“We have been receiving reports of ASB taking place on the route which has led to disruption to the service.”

The officers got off at known ASB hotspots along the route, such as School Street, throughout the day but found no issues to deal with.

PC Hepton added: “Officers are always looking to engage with communities as this enables us to build up intelligence of what is happening in an area and tailor our policing tactics to combat it.”

Pop-up police stations were also held on the day in Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe and Bolton-on-Dearne.