Project Flex | partnership work continues to tackle serious and organised crime in Derby

Project Flex is continuing to disrupt criminal activity in Derby, with drugs seizures now totalling more than £100,000.

Officers from the Project Flex team have made 120 arrests since the project began in October 2025, investigating 80 crimes related to drugs supplies and seizing more than £100k  worth of drugs.

The arrests have been for a range of offences but mainly relate to drugs and shoplifting. Nine homes have also been identified as being cuckooed, where criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person, and measures put in place to keep the resident safe and provide support.

Two organised crime groups that were involved in drug dealing in the area have been dismantled as a result of work by the team.

Local Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) have also been integral with increased local patrols, safeguarding work, proactive operations and long term problem solving for issues such as anti-social behaviour, drugs offences and vehicle crime.

Working in partnership

Alongside the arrests and seizures, Derbyshire Constabulary has also worked with local partners to address the causes of issues in the local area.

This has included intelligence led warrants with Derby City Council’s Housing Standards team to target unlicensed Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), which are often linked with exploitation or drugs use. Investigations are ongoing, with the aim of prosecuting rogue landlords where necessary.

Local policing teams have also been working closely with Trading Standards to seize and stop the sale of counterfeit and unsafe goods, including vapes, perfumes, toys and other items.

Community safety officers are also working closely with premises and the local council to look at factors where how a property or street is set up may contribute to problem behaviour such as begging, drug taking and rough sleeping. Measures have been advised, including the removal of benches, improved fencing, lighting and regular patrols.

Long-lasting benefits

Inspector Tony England, the Project Flex lead for Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “Arrest and drugs seizure numbers are just a small highlight of the work taking place for Project Flex.

“This is a huge effort across multiple teams and agencies in Derby, with regular meetings to share information and make decisions quickly.

“This is work that will continue long after we move past the Clear phase of this Clear, Hold, Build project. From the start, we’ve known the issues wouldn’t be solved with just police enforcement, which is why it’s been so important to work closely with our partners in Derby from day one of Project Flex.”

Councillor Sarah Chambers, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Public Safety, said:

“Project Flex is continuing to deliver real results in tackling the issues that cause the most concern. By combining robust enforcement with support for vulnerable people, we are committed to making the city a safer place for everyone. Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live and work, and we will continue to work for the city through Project Flex to tackle crime.”

Project Flex is using the Home Office’s ‘Clear Hold Build’ framework in order to disrupt serious organised crime and to reclaim and rebuild affected neighbourhoods in an area running from St Peter’s Street down towards Rosehill.

For more information about the project please visit www.derbyshire.police.uk/ProjectFlex and follow our social media channels by searching the hashtag #FLEX