Police in Ipswich have made a string of arrests as part of their efforts to crackdown on anti-social behaviour – much of which is related to drugs.

Officers made 10 arrests in the town in relation to drugs and anti-social behaviour last week – at least five of whom were youngsters.

Head of policing in Ipswich, Superintendent Kerry Cutler, said: “We will continue to pursue, disrupt and arrest those people bringing criminality or anti-social behaviour to the streets of our town.

“The actions of our officers are backing our strong words by continually gathering intelligence, getting into the areas these individuals or groups operate in and as a result we have made 18 arrests in the past two weeks alone and carried-out a number of searches of people and properties.”

“Alongside this enforcement action, we are also working with our partner agencies to seek ways to divert young people from becoming involved in criminality and to help extract them from what can become a vicious cycle of drugs and violent crime, which in turn impacts on local communities.”

The arrests came from a series of targeted patrols, searches and address checks, following on from eight arrests made the week before.

The full list of arrests is as follows:

-A 42-year-old man from Ipswich. Arrested by officers acting on intelligence regarding potential drug-dealing in Rope Walk on 21 March. Following interview he will face no further police action.

-A 19-year-old man and two 17-year-old boys – all from Ipswich. This relates to an incident on 21 March where officers out on patrol in the Norwich Road area became suspicious of a car which was then located in Ivry Street. The three were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, but will face no further police action following interview.

-A 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, both from Ipswich. They were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B or C drugs with intent to supply; and money laundering; by officers on patrol in Yeoman Close on 22 March. The 19-year-old will face no further action following interview. The 16-year-old has been released on bail until 12 April pending further enquires.

-A 16-year-old boy from Ipswich. He was arrested on 23 March on suspicion of robbery. This relates to an incident in Prospect Street on 4 February where a man was assaulted by four males who demanded he hand over his phone and wallet. He has been bailed until 25 April pending further enquiries. -A 17-year-old boy from Ipswich. He was arrested on 24 March in connection with a public order offence occurring in Hawthorn Drive on 22 March, where a group of three males are alleged to have threatened to other males. He has been charged with using threatening behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress in relation to this incident. He was also charged with possession of cannabis. He has been bailed to appear at Ipswich Youth Court on 20 April. He was subsequently arrested again for 26 March for breaching his bail conditions and charged as a result of this. He was remanded in custody to appear before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on 27 March.

-Rokib Ali, aged 21, of Hilton Road, Ipswich. He has been charged with possession of cannabis and has been bailed to appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on 18 April. This followed an incident on 26 March where officers out on patrol in Nacton Road had cause to follow a suspicious vehicle, which was then stopped on Bishops Hill and all five occupants were searched.

Officers also issued a closure order on a property in Granville Street for 48 hours which was linked to drug use.

A Section 34 Order was again implemented in the area of Jubilee Park for 48 hours between 5pm on Saturday 25 March and 5pm on Monday 27 March. This gives police officers the power to direct people to leave an area to prevent anti-social behaviour or crime. As a result of this three people were issued with directions to leave the area for 48 hours on 25 March.

Supt Cutler added: “We continue to act upon the intelligence that members of the public give us.

“That information can help us remove drugs and violence from our communities.

“If you know of suspicious activity taking place in your locality please let us know using the 101 number and we will respond, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”