CRIME AND COMMU NITY NEW S Five sentenced for drug supply

FOLLOWING an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, five , men have been sentenced for activity linked to Class A drug supply and money laundering in Slough

The investigation related to an organised crime group operating in Slough using an encr ypted phone ser vice , to supply significant quantities of cocaine and launder the proceeds of drug deals wor th millions of pounds

At Reading Crown Cour t, Fariyaz Ahmed, 32, of Oakfield Avenue , Slough, was sentenced to seven years ’ and six months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to money laundering.

At the same hearing Shayan Mir, 52, of Elmcroft Terrace , Uxbridge , was sentenced to six years ’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine .

Three others were sentenced as par t of the same investigation at earlier hearings at Reading Crown Cour t

Previously Hammad Din, 29, of Montague Road, Slough was sentenced to seven years and six months’ after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and money laundering; Daniel Marshal, 28 of The Brambles, West Drayton, was sentenced to nine years and one month, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and money laundering; and Tanwier Hussain, 50, of Westgate Crescent, Slough, was sentenced to seven years and six months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to money laundering

Between May 2020 and August 2020, Thames Valley Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit conducted an investigation into the supply of Class A drugs in the Slough area.

An Organised Crime Group were identified whom were communicating through the encr ypted phone network, EncroChat

This was to move approximately 98kg of cocaine , and launder around £2.2 million of cash connected to the enterprise during a six month period between December 2019 and June 2020

Police to get updated tasers

THAMES Valley Police and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabular y are launching the rollout of new Taser devices

Over the course of the next 12 months, the Taser 7 device will replace all current X2 models

The device is an evolution of its predecessor, enhancing the safety of our officers and the public , with two car tridge types for use depending on the proximity of a person

Assistant Chief Constable Rob France , responsible for the two forces' Joint Operations Unit, said: "Since the Home Office approved the T7, following rigorous testing, we have been looking into introducing this to replace the current X2 devices our people use

"Ensuring the safety of all in our communities, in par ticular the most vulnerable , is a key priority, and Taser has an impor tant par t to play in this

"All Taser trained officers go through a comprehensive training programme , and continual refresher training, to ensure it is being used lawfully and appropriately.

"Of course , we will always do all we can to resolve a situation without needing to use force; however, there are occasions when we must do so for the safety of the public , to ensure the safety of ourselves, or for the safety of the person involved in the incident "

T wo drug dealers sentenced to seven years in p rison

TWO men have been convicted for supplying drugs following a Thames Valley Police investigation.

Jamie Heritage, 24, of World’s End Lane,Weston Turville, was sentenced to three years and two months’ imprisonment at Aylesbury Crown Court for dealing drugs in Aylesbury

At an earlier hearing on 6 January this year, he plead guilty to one count each of; being concerned in the supply of a class A drug – cocaine and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.

On 23 November last year, officers observed a drug deal in Stilton Close, Aylesbury While investigating the circumstances of this, Heritage was identified as a contact on a phone being used by the offender in the case

George Dallarda, 34, of Katesgrove Lane, has been sentenced to four years and eight months’ imprisonment at Reading Crown Court

At a previous hearing on 12 January this year, he pleaded guilty to one count each of; possession with intent to supply a class A drug – cocaine, possession with intent to supply a class B drug. He was also found to have breached a suspended sentence