POLICE have arrested 84 people in the borough connected with drug-related crime.

Since the beginning of December, local officers have been working on Operation Diagonal, which aims to crackdown on offenders who use stolen property to fund their habit.

The government-funded operation is being run in conjunction with Bury police officers, who have been carrying out regular patrols around the borough during the run-up to Christmas.

Offenders being targeted include shoplifters, pickpockets, mobile phone thieves and burglars. Of the 84 people arrested for drug-fuelled crimes, 28 were detained under Operation Diagonal, of which 24 people were addicted to heroin.

The operation was suspended today (Dec 24) but are planning more high-profile and covert operations throughout 2002.