Thames Valley Police have made 55 arrests during a large-scale operation targeting serious and organised crime across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire.
Hundreds of officers and staff took part in the three-day operation, which ran from 13 to 15 January, focusing on criminal networks linked to high-value vehicle theft, robbery, business burglaries and other serious offences.
Police said the action was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organised crime groups operating across the region.
Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray, who led the operation, said the force had made a “substantial impact” on organised crime.
“It was incredible to see our people come together for a dedicated operation to fight serious and organised crime across the Thames Valley,” he said.
“In doing so, we are protecting our communities and working hard to serve victims. We want people to know they’re not alone and that we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”
In total, officers carried out 70 arrest attempts across all four counties, leading to arrests for offences including armed robbery, conspiracy to burgle, theft of motor vehicles and handling stolen goods. Police also located a number of people wanted for failing to appear at court or who were on recall to prison.
Public order-trained officers executed 11 early-morning warrants to arrest suspects believed to be involved in organised acquisitive crime and to seize evidence.
In Slough, eight people were arrested during six simultaneous dawn raids on suspicion of being part of an organised crime group linked to the theft of high-value vehicles across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and London. Police said the suspects were charged with a total of 56 offences and remanded in custody. Weapons, including knives, were also seized.
In Buckinghamshire, five people were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and failing to appear at court. Officers seized large quantities of suspected stolen tools and more than 120 new 3D printers during a dawn warrant at a traveller site.
Two people were arrested in Oxford on suspicion of modern slavery offences following a long-running CID investigation, while in Reading officers arrested the force’s highest-priority retail crime suspect, who was charged with 21 offences and 17 breaches of bail.
Live facial recognition technology was also deployed during the operation in Milton Keynes, High Wycombe and Reading for the first time, and in Oxford for the second time. Police said three matches were made with a bespoke list of wanted individuals in Oxford, including one using a 15-year-old image, with all cases resolved without arrest.
Officers also carried out additional high-visibility patrols as part of the force’s Safer Streets Winter of Action, aimed at tackling crime in town and city centres. Plain-clothed officers, specialist units including the Drone Unit and Mounted Section, and neighbouring police forces also supported the operation.
ACC Murray said the force was proud of the work carried out but acknowledged that more remained to be done.
“We have achieved so much with this major operation, but we know there will always be more to do to tackle serious and organised crime — and we will never stop,” he said.
