Police Chief Warns Crime Drama Glamourises Drugs After Major Raids

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Rob Carden has criticised a popular BBC television crime drama set in Liverpool, stating that the show glamourises drugs and portrays criminal activity as profitable. Speaking immediately after a massive police crackdown across the region, Carden acknowledged that while the series highlights the violence and misery associated with organised crime, it also sends a damaging message about the lucrative nature of the illegal drug trade. His comments echoed earlier remarks from Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who expressed disappointment that screenwriters continue to focus on organised crime rather than the warmth of Liverpool's communities. The police chief's warning coincided with the fourth wave of Operation Vanguard, a major enforcement sweep involving more than 220 officers executing 23 early-morning search warrants across Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley, and St Helens. During the coordinated raids, which included dawn entries in areas such as Tuebrook, officers arrested 26 people and seized half a kilogram of cocaine, £24,000 in cash, and two Rolex watches. Carden emphasised that Merseyside Police remains determined to keep pace with innovative criminals and relentlessly pursue those who bring fear and harm to local neighbourhoods.