In the early hours of the morning, two men were detained by officers under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act during a stop-and-search operation in a public area.
The Encounter
The incident began when police approached the two individuals sitting on a bench, reportedly “messing around with [their] nuts and balloons” — language commonly used to describe the inhalation of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. The officers, identifying themselves as PC 1178 Dave Lovett and PC 979 Crown from Wisbech Police Station, explained that the area was known for drug supply activity.
Both individuals were told they were detained under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, granting officers the power to search those suspected of possessing controlled substances. The men were instructed to remain still and not to run.
Arrest and Charges
After the search, one of the men was placed under arrest for concern in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs as well as possession of criminal property. He was read his rights, including the standard caution:
“You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court.”
The arrest was recorded at approximately 7:30 a.m.
Aftermath
Following the arrest, the man was offered the chance to gather some clothes before being taken away. The transcript concludes with him calling out to his father, asking to be picked up, underscoring the sudden and distressing nature of the arrest.
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