A CRACKDOWN on known criminals in Sunderland has proved a success in its first week.

Police in the Sunderland West area launched Operation Rolling Thunder at the start of the year.

Officers set out to target active criminals and made 52 arrests in the first week. Police also recovered property, including cars, mobile phones and drugs.

So far, 18 men and two women have been charged with offences including vehicle crime, violent crime and drugs offences.

Chief Inspector Steve Hopkirk, operations manager at Sunderland West Area Command, said: "We are determined to put pressure on active criminals and disrupt their activities by arresting them and putting them before the courts."

Anyone with information about people involved in crime is asked to call police on 0191-454 7555, extension 66251.