POLICE made seven arrests in Northwich when they came together from all over Cheshire to carry out drug raids in the town.


Three raids were carried out in Northwich by a large team of police on Thursday, October 16, as part an initiative named Operation Impact, with two flats on Denton Drive and one house on Renshaw Street on the police hit-list.


Two men and five women were arrested in total concerning supply and control of drugs, all from the address on Renshaw Street.


Police used battering rams to enter the properties before carrying a thorough search.


Officers from crime units and neighbouring police teams around Cheshire all came together to help out on Operation Impact.


Police Inspector Paul Loughlin, of Northwich Police, said: “What the NPU has been trying to do in recent days is to reassure the community that we are going to tackle the issue they have flagged up with us.


“Drug dealers are not welcome in Northwich and we will make it as difficult as we can for drug dealers to operate.


“We are not going to put up with it and we will do what we need to do to put a stop to it and respond to residents’ concerns.


“Residents in Renshaw Street and that area have been in recent times calling us to let us know about the problem and without that we wouldn’t be able to do this so I’d like to thank the community.


“Unfortunately we get the situation where we deal with one area and then the problem changes to another area so we need to keep on top of it.”


“There are good drug rehabilitation services in Northwich and we encourage drug users to use them but our priority is to make the town centre a safer place.


During the raids, PCSO’s were on hand to inform neighbours of what was going on.


One resident of Renshaw Street, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “You see them coming all the time because it’s a small street so you know what’s going on.


“I just try to keep myself to myself because it’s safer that way, it’s a dangerous time now so I don’t get involved.


“I am glad the police have done something about this going here but it’s whether it works because they will probably just crop up somewhere else now.


“I’ve lived here all my life and this is the fourth time that I know about that this has happened so they do just keep coming back.


“If I could afford to move out I would, but unfortunately I can’t so I’m stuck with it.”