IPSWICH: Police arrested 14 people during a crackdown on Class A drug street dealing last month, it can be revealed today.

During the operation, which launched on July 12, officers closed down “crack houses” and uncovered a cannabis factory in Anglesea Road, which contained more than 300 plants.

The initiative saw officers “respond dynamically” to information received from the public.

A string of warrants were executed using the powers of the Misuse of Drugs Act as police tried to take action in problem areas, providing “reassurance” to the community.

The intelligence for the initiative not only came from work carried out by police officers but also information received from the public.

Detective Inspector Richard Crabtree, of the Ipswich Area Intelligence Unit, said the force needed to work with communities in order to carry out operations of this scale.

He said: “Information from the public is key when targeting street dealers.

“If people do not inform us what is going on in their community then it is more difficult for us to do something about it.

“One of the arrests made during this initiative directly led from information from a member of the public and I would like to appeal to anyone who has any information in relation to street dealing to get in contact immediately.”

He added: “Anyone involved in street dealing should be warned that it will not be tolerated. This is an ongoing initiative and if people continue to deal drugs then they will be caught.”

Fourteen arrests have been made so far and five people, including three from Ipswich and two from London, have been charged with drug-related offences.

A further nine people arrested during the operation have been released on bail and told to return to Ipswich Police Station later in the year.

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