Weston-super-Mare drug raids

Nearly 100 police officers have taken part in a Weston-super-Mare drugs bust today.

Avon and Somerset police said they raided 12 address and arrested eight people.

Detective Inspector Mark Rolfe, who co-ordinated today's raids, said: "Targeting drug-related crime has been a priority for North Somerset police for some time.

"But simply executing warrants usually only has a short-term impact on the drug supply chain; if you remove one or two links from the chain, there is inevitably always someone else waiting to step in and re-establish the links.

"We have been working closely with partner agencies, including the CPS and local probation service to look at how we can disrupt, dismantle and destroy the chain on a longer-term basis.

"With that in mind, we are seeking some post-conviction anti-social behaviour orders against some of the people we arrested during the first wave of Operation Nissan warrants a few weeks ago.

"If successful, those people will be banned from entering the entire Avon and Somerset force area for ten years.

"The fact that we are applying for these ASBO's will, I hope, send a strong message to local communities about our determination to not find quick-fix answers to the immediate drug problem, but to find long-term solutions.

"It will also send a very strong message to drug dealers – we do not want you in North Somerset. We do not want you in the Avon and Somerset force area, and we are looking at any means possible to keep you off of our streets."