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A message from our Inspector at Erewash - Hi everyone, Inspector Charlotte Pigott here updating you about the latest work that my officers have been carrying out in Erewash.
After a very busy start to 2026, we have listened carefully to the issues you’ve shared with us in person and through neighbourhood meetings, online reports and local engagement events. Alongside this feedback, our analysis identified a noticeable shift in crime trends, including increases in drug related activity. In response, I created ‘Operation Rigger’ – a focussed operation targeting drugs and knife crime across the Erewash area.
The aim was to identify and target drug suppliers, disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups and take weapons and drugs from our streets. The enforcement activity was done through dynamic proactive policing, altering response dependent on real time reports.
WHEN?
The operation ran from 16-27 February 2026.
WHAT WERE OUR RESULTS?
As part of this operation, officers conducted targeted patrols, stop searches and warrants in key hotspot locations. This activity led to:
• 25 arrests
• 65 stop searches
• 27 drug seizures
• 9 weapons seized
• 10 vehicles seized
• £3380 of cash seized from suspected criminal activity
• 10 referrals submitted through to social care for vulnerable people and children
• 10 people already charged to court, the rest remain under investigation
Majority of arrests were for drug offences such as possession with intent to supply a controlled drug and possession of offensive weapons or bladed articles. The weapons we seized included: butterfly knives, machetes, knuckle dusters, knives and a baton.
WHO WAS INVOLVED?
• Ilkeston SNT
• Long Eaton SNT
• Erewash LPU
• Force Proactive Team
• Operational Support Dog Officers
• CCTV Volunteers
• Force Intelligence Officers
• Divisional SNT
• Special Constables
These results demonstrate our determination to disrupt criminal activity, remove weapons from our streets and prevent harm within our communities. The intelligence and information provided by residents played a crucial role in shaping the operation, ensuring our activity was directed where it was needed most.
Tackling drugs, weapon carrying and associated violence remains a priority for us. Operations like this are just one part of our ongoing work, and we will continue to combine enforcement, prevention and partnership approaches to keep people safe.
Thank you to everyone who continues to report concerns and share information—it genuinely makes a difference. If you see something suspicious, please report it. Your voice helps us take meaningful action. We will continue our work in this area and react to information we receive.
I am very proud of my team and what they have accomplished in a short space of time. Everyone has worked countless hours, been committed to the operation and have achieved brilliant results.
OTHER INITIATIVES IN LINE WITH OUR SNT PRIORITIES
• Throughout January, officers carried out acquisitive crime patrols in the dark nights and early hours of the morning. This was across the entire section of Erewash. The patrols assisted with providing evidence to support a Criminal Behaviour Order for a prolific offender in the area.
• Operation Safe Drive; Ilkeston SNT officers are currently carrying out a road safety operation in Morley Smithy after we received feedback from many community groups about speeding in the area. This will receive an ongoing partnership response.
• Long Eaton SNT carried out a road safety operation at West Park Long Eaton on 26 January 2026. They achieved a wealth of results, some of which listed below:
o 19 tickets for mobile phone use whilst driving
o 2 vehicles seized for no insurance
o 1 disqualified driver identified and vehicles seized
o Traffic offence for a vehicle with 6 defects
o Other tickets and words of advice for - Seat belts / unrestrained pets / window tints and lights being defective
• A Problem Management Plan has been created to tackle heightened youth related anti-social behaviour we have been experiencing in the Tesco and McDonald’s area on Waverley Street. We are looking to work with our Community Safety Partnership, Safe and Sound, security and management of the stores and other local community groups.
We will be renewing our safer neighbourhood priorities at the end of this month. A holistic review will be done of not only our incident and crime statistics but public surveys, engagement events, Derbyshire Alert and our partners to set our priorities for the next quarter. I encourage you to sign up to Derbyshire Alert so that you can register your views and opinions on a monitored forum: https://orlo.uk/E9DHV
EVENTS
• Come and meet our teams at one of our planned Community Catch Ups, details of which are all listed on https://orlo.uk/JNcoS
• We have a bike marking event at 12pm on 29 March at Tesco, Waverley Street, Long Eaton
• Attend our crime prevention advice event at 12pm on 12 April at Lanes Garden Centre
• Meet officers at the Stay and Chat Group at 10am on Wilmot Street, Ilkeston
To report crimes to us, you can do the below:
• Website – We have crime reporting tools on our website: https://orlo.uk/E2Me8 including Live Chat.
• Facebook – send us a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page: https://orlo.uk/wtWDP
• Phone – call us on 101
You can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website: https://orlo.uk/jqIIK | 
