One suspected drug dealer every two days has been arrested on the streets of East Oxford since a New Year police crackdown started.

Police walking the beat in East Oxford, which includes Iffley Road, St Clements, Cowley Road and surrounding residential roads, have increased the number of suspects they are stopping and searching for drugs after complaints from residents and businesses that dealing was rife in the area.

Police made 27 arrests and cautions for drug offences since the new year.

Neighbourhood officer Pc Oli Jacques said: “Drugs are the number one neighbourhood priority identified by the community and, as a resul,t the neighbourhood team has been stop-searching more individuals in the streets, which has led to quite a large number of people being dealt with.

“As a result of intelligence from residents we are getting reports of when the dealers are about and where.”

Police made 12 arrests and cautions in February, including two men aged 26 and 27.

They were arrested for possession of class A drugs with intent to supply after a stop-and-search in Cowley Road, near Leon Close, on February 11.

In January, 15 people were arrested or cautioned for drug offences.

They included a 23-year-old woman, while two men aged 19 and 20 were arrested in Iffley Road on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply on January 16. All three were bailed.

Cocaine and cannabis were seized when two men aged 26 and 27 were arrested in Manzil Way just days later. Both have been bailed.

About 100 cannabis plants were discovered during a raid on a house in Howard Street on January 25 Pc Jacques added: “Drug dealing brings criminals into the area to commit crimes such as theft, burglary and shoplifting to fund their habits.

“We are aiming to reduce this and seem to be getting some good results.

“But we are also encouraging people to contact us with intelligence.”

Jan Bartlett, of Premier Lettings in Cowley Road, said the amount of drug needles found near her shop had also fallen in the past month.

She added: “We used to see all the behaviour such as cars slowing down and passing things to people and the usual dodgy characters hanging around. We’ve really noticed the difference and in the past month it’s stopped.

“It’s been fantastic.”

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505, Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or they can email eastoxford@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk