Cops swap suspected criminals’ flash trainers for ’embarrassing’ plimsolls

COPS are tackling suspected drug dealers by confiscating their flash trainers — and making them go home in “em­barrassing” cheap plimsolls.

Chiefs say expensive footwear by brands like Nike are status ­symbols to young dealers.

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Officers have now amassed more than 100 pairs at Swindon’s central police station, with 15 collected in the past few weeks alone — leaving the owners “extremely unhappy”.

Police are using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act as part of their battle to smash dangerous “county lines” gangs based in big cities, who have cornered the drugs market in Swindon and other Wiltshire towns.

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Pricey new trainers can be one of the more visible signs that young people have been recruited.

DC George Booth, of Wiltshire Police’s North Dedicated Crime Team, said: “People seem to hate the fact that we’ve seized their trainers and they leave custody in black plimsolls.

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“Designer trainers or clothes can be seen as a status symbol, so losing that is pretty difficult for them to deal with.

“We want to get the message out that we’re dealing robustly with people if we think they’re buying their trainers with money from drugs.”