Hampshire's biggest ever crackdown on crime (From Daily Echo)

Hampshire's biggest ever crackdown on crime

2:00pm Wednesday 14th November 2007 in

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MORE THAN 800 police officers carried out dawn raids today in Hampshire's biggest ever crackdown on organised crime.

The officers, backed up by specialist armed teams, forced their way into flats and houses in the hunt for drugs and firearms dealers.

Latest police figures reveal that at least 50 people have been arrested.

Most of the 37 addresses were in the Southampton area with a further two in Winchester, one in Eastleigh and one in Hythe.

Officers from the force support unit based at Netley used steel enforcers to break down doors at the properties.

Simultaneous raids were also carried out in London, Slough and the Midlands. So far more than 50 warrants have been executed. It is expected that dozens of arrests will be made.

The raids are the latest phase of Operation Phoenix, a Hampshire pre-planned operation also designed to capture people forging ID documents and handling stolen goods.

The initiative, the biggest ever to be carried out in Hampshire, follows more than two years of planning by the serious and organised crime unit.

FIND OUT WHERE THE RAIDS TOOK PLACE