Seventeen held after drugs raids

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Seventeen people have been arrested in dawn raids in Kent in an operation to stop dealers selling Class A drugs.

About 150 police officers were involved in the raids at 21 addresses in Dover, while sniffer dogs were also sent to the town's railway station.

Police said it followed information received during close community work between officers and residents.

Sgt Andy Clubb said: "It sends out a clear message that obviously we're not going to tolerate this."

Suspicious activity

Officers said a number of drugs and associated items, plus other stolen items, were recovered from several properties raided on Tuesday morning.

As a follow up to the raids, local neighbourhood policing officers are working in the areas where the arrests were made, making contact with residents to offer support and advice.

Police said they would also be re-introducing the "rat on a rat" campaign in Dover, to try to encourage local people to come forward with any information about suspicious activity with regard to drugs.

Ch Supt Steve Harris said: "Please come forward, give us the information that you have, help us fill in the intelligence picture that will make your area a safer place to live for everybody who lives there, works there and comes to play in our area."