WINCHESTER police have arrested six people including four teenagers in a crackdown on Class A drug dealing.

Suspects as young as 16 were detained last week during a five-day sting, with all but one hailing from London.

On Monday May 16 Operation Fortress officers arrested a 17-year-old boy from the capital on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. He had been stopped by officers in Kings Worthy and has been released on police bail.

The next day police stopped a vehicle on City Road, arresting two 21-year-old women from London. One was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and the second was given a cannabis warning.

On Friday May 20, police raided an address in Sarum Road, arresting three London teenagers aged 16, 17 and 18. Hampshire Constabulary said they were held on suspicion of "being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs".

On the same day a 27-year-old man from Kent was arrested in Paulet Place on suspicion of the same offence. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Chief Inspector Claire Taylor said: “We are working hard to make life as unpleasant as possible for people who come into our city suspected of being involved in drug dealing and crimes linked to drugs. During these days of action, officers from the Winchester district focussed on disrupting those suspected of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

“We will continue to target those who come into our city to commit crime by carrying out more of these types of operations as well as targeting these types of people in our day to day work. If you have any information about drugs in your community, please contact us; the more we know, the more we can do about it.”

Operation Fortress is a campaign involving police and other agencies to reduce the harm of drug-related violence. Police want to hear from anyone concerned about drugs or related violence in their area.

They have issued the following things to look out for:

• A sudden increase in visitors to a house or flat and people only staying for a very short time

• Short exchanges between small groups of people at or close to a flat or house

• Residents leaving a flat or house on numerous occasions throughout the day and returning a short time later

• People loitering in an area and using their mobile phones frequently

• New-looking or hire cars parked outside a house or flat that wouldn’t normally be there, and being driven by somebody that you wouldn’t normally associate with driving that style of car.

Anyone with concerns cna call police on 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.

Alternatively, call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.