KNOCK, KNOCK

POLICE have raided 14 homes across Stoke-on-Trent in an operation to target suspected drug dealers.

A total of 12 people, eight men and four women, were arrested as officers executed search warrants as part of Staffordshire Police's Operation Nemesis.

The action began shortly after 7.30am yesterday, when teams of officers began to batter down the doors of properties they believed to be linked to the supply of drugs.

The operation continued throughout the morning, with 14 homes targeted by 1pm.

The search warrants, all granted under the Misuse of Drugs Act, were carried out with the aim of recovering evidence against people accused of dealing Class A drugs.

At one address, a flat in Waterloo Road, Cobridge, six people were arrested and police seized what they believe to be crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £8,000. Officers also removed £2,000 in cash from the address.

Other homes targeted were in Chaplin Road and Castleton Road in Normacot, May Place in Longton, Witchford Crescent in Blurton, Sundorne Place in Bentilee, Brocklehurst Way and Stanway Avenue in Sneyd Green, Tintern Street in Hanley, Federation Road in Burslem, and Spratslade Drive in Dresden.

The suspects arrested were taken to the Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria. A 37-year-old man from Bentilee was charged with drugs offences and was due to appear before magistrates this morning.

Detectives were last night continuing to question the remaining suspects.

Superintendent Dave Mellor, pictured left, from Stoke-on-Trent Division, said: "Many of the searches carried out were the result of calls from members of the public to Crimestoppers to report suspicious behaviour at the addresses."

Residents in Cobridge welcomed yesterday's action.

Steve Pritchard, chairman of Portland and Cobridge Residents' Association said: "The fact that residents can see the police acting on their concerns is reassuring."

Cobridge resident Bernard Wragg said: "It's good to see the police doing something about it."

Nemesis lives up to its name: Page 4