SIXTEEN people appeared before magistrates in St Helens charged with drug offences following dawn raids by police in St Helens after 'close liaison' with St Helens Council and concerned community groups.

Operation Market Place saw approximately 80 officers from St Helens Police Station involved in raids on seven addresses across the town on Thursday, January 8 in a bid to combat street dealing in controlled drugs, including heroin, crack cocaine and amphetamines, and exchanging drugs for stolen property.

The 16 people arrested were charged variously with supplying crack and possession of crack, cocaine and cannabis; being concerned with the supply of heroin, making offers to supply heroin, crack and cocaine and arranging to receive stolen goods.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Dale, who was the officer in charge of the operation, later said: "This is the culmination of extensive enquiries into the unlawful supply of controlled drugs in St Helens and has been a direct response to concerns by members of the local community."

He added: "We have been liaising closely with the local authority and community groups and we are determined to crack down on the street drug dealers. We are confident that evictions will follow these arrests. Our efforts will continue to rid this community of such people."

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