Police issued a stern warning to drug dealers today - We're after you!

They are stepping up the war amid growing fears that peddlers from London and Birmingham are using the M40 to target drug users in Oxfordshire's market towns.

Yesterday, police launched their biggest offensive yet in north Oxfordshire with 90 officers making dawn swoops on 15 homes in Banbury.

Fourteen arrests were made and heroin worth thousands of pounds was seized along with cash and stolen property. The move followed action by Oxford police last week to clear dealers from the notorious memorial garden in Bonn Square which had become a haven for drugs.

Yesterday's police raids at Banbury coincided with the third visit to Oxfordshire in recent weeks by the Government's anti-drugs "tsar" Keith Hellawell who called on everyone to help fight the drugs menace.

Det Insp Brendan O'Dowda, head of Banbury CID, who led the raids after weeks of planning, warned dealers that market towns along the M40 corridor were no longer easy targets. He said that Thames Valley Police had built up a strong surveillance and intelligence system which was leading to more arrests.

He said: "I can guarantee that if someone comes from London or Birmingham trying to sell drugs, we will get to know about it within days.

"Tackling drug crime is one of the most important priorities for Thames Valley Police and we are seeing the benefits of this policy."

He said the recent conviction of two drug dealers was proof of the force's increasing success in its battle against drugs.

Selvyn Tullock, 27, from the West Midlands, and Joseph Korsah, from London, were both jailed for four-and-a-half years at Oxford Crown Court for dealing in crack cocaine and heroin in Banbury. The 14 people arrested yesterday - 11 men and three women - are being questioned at Banbury police station. More arrests are expected.

Det Insp O'Dowda said he was pleased with the outcome of the morning raids.

He said: "We know heroin is coming into this town and as a result we targeted a number of addresses. I am delighted that a substantial amount of this drug is now out of circulation."

Mr Hellawell was in Oxford to discuss proposed late-night licensing laws due to be published next year and to get first-hand knowledge about the availability and use of drugs in the nightclub scene. He said: "Drugs destroy lives and ravage communities. It is not an easy path, but with commitment, co-operation and willingness to work together, we can help to guarantee a safer, healthier future for our youngsters."

Mr Hellawell met Clive Preston, managing director of Britain's biggest nightclub operator Northern Leisure, as well as representatives of the city council, police and a drugs awareness agency.

Northern Leisure is concerned that allowing more venues to stay open later could leave young people more vulnerable to drugs. Mr Preston said: "Premises operated by Northern Leisure are subject to strict conditions, which help us in the battle against drug abuse.

"We believe all who trade in late-night entertainment should have to take the same precautions."

Story date: Friday 10 December

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