THE message sent out by police to drug dealers in Southmead is short and stark. They have said in effect we will not tolerate you ruining the lives of decent law-abiding people.

For drug dealers are like a cancer within neighbourhoods.

The moment they move into a house or a business or a pub and begin to peddle their filth the community around them suffers.

For they attract addicts like moths to a flame. Addicts in turn need cash to pay for their habit and so they commit crime.

And often that means targeting people and property in their own neighbourhood or nearby.

The police involved in planning and executing the raids in Southmead deserve great credit.

For they recognise that even one house selling drugs in a street is one too many.

They know that the war on drugs is one where persistence and attention to detail is most important.

That is why every arrest, every conviction, every seizure makes a difference.

Drug dealers and users need to understand that no matter where they carry out their deals they will be caught.

And the raids carried out in Southmead underline that message perfectly.