Drugs worth £55,000 seized in targeted raids by police

Officers have staged eight major operations in the town during the past six months, focusing on people involved in supplying class A drugs.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Pearson, of Sedgefield police, said Ferryhill had been targeted as a result of information they had received.

"Out of those eight operations, we've taken out 15 dealers and we've recovered drugs with a street value of over £55,000," he said.

"We believe that operations of this type directly affect the quality of life of the people who live in Ferryhill and Dean Bank.

"We have had very positive feedback from the community that we serve in that area. A number of people at residents' and community meetings have said it's a better place to live."

DCI Pearson said more initiatives are planned in the area and added: "There are ongoing operations as we speak and there will be further operations in the future.

"This has been a major success, but there's no way we're being complacent."

It is hoped that the success of the operations will have an effect on other crime.

The Sedgefield Burglary Action Group believes that many burglaries in the borough are linked to drugs.

The group, formed under the Sedgefield Community Safety Partnership banner, includes representatives from the police, Sedgefield Borough Council, Three Rivers Housing, Disc, Victim Support, the youth offending team and The Northern Echo.

DCI Pearson, who chairs the group, said: "What we're saying is that a lot of the burglaries stem from people trying to get money to buy drugs."

The team is working on a number of initiatives in Ferryhill, including creating a private landlords association.

Beat officer PC Chris Metcalfe has sent out letters to all private landlords in the area to gauge support for the idea.

DCI Pearson said: "We've had about a 70 per cent return from all the private landlords in Ferryhill wanting a meeting to look into the possibility of forming an association."