Police enter a house in Bridgnorth

More than 30 police officers swooped on homes in Shropshire as part of an ongoing campaign to slash crime and anti-social behaviour.

Three people were arrested during a series of raids in the major police operation late last night and early this morning.

Amounts of suspected controlled Class A and B drugs were seized when warrants were executed on four homes in the Bridgnorth and Broseley areas, police said.

The officers, including dog handling teams, were involved in Operation Artic targeting drug dealers and users, alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

Inspector Steve Fitzpatrick, in charge of the operation, said: “We are concentrating on disrupting the supply of illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine as well as combating violence, burglary, theft and other drug-related crime.”

Officers also visited pubs in Bridgnorth with dogs trained to sniff out drugs being carried by customers.

The road policing unit patrolled areas of the town where speeding vehicles have caused problems.

Officers were also on duty in Cartway where residents have been disturbed by drivers illegally using the road as a short cut between High Town and Low Town.

Inspector Fitzpatrick added: “Bridgnorth like the rest of Shropshire has a relatively low crime rate. However we are determined to take action against the small minority of people who resort to crime or who are responsible for anti-social behaviour.

“I want to reassure people that police operations of this nature are part of an on-going campaign to make Bridgnorth and the surrounding area a safe and pleasant place to live and work. The operation was not secret or covert. It was the culmination of hard work and intelligence provided by the general public.

“Information comes from all sorts of sources but it is important the public continue to report anything they consider suspicious, especially drug activity.”

In a separate incident, police seized suspected Class A drugs and a man has been arrested after a raid on rented accommodation in Ludlow. Police searched a Broad Street flat at about 9.30am yesterday.

Detective Constable Joe Jordan of Ludlow CID said: “A small quantity of what is believed to be Class A drugs was recovered and seized.”

He added: “A man was later voluntarily interviewed at Ludlow Police Station in connection with the discovery and police are awaiting the results of further tests on the substance.”

By Deborah Collins