Seven arrested in drugs and crime crackdown

Seven men were arrested as part of Operation Claymore

Seven men have been arrested in a three-county police operation to crack down on drug dealing and theft.

Essex Police said officers from the Metropolitan and Hertfordshire forces were involved, due to criminal activity across their borders.

The men were arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply, possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage, drug-driving and drink-driving.

Two vehicles were seized.

Two vehicles were seized including one that had been reported stolen

Essex Police said the "cross-force team" tracked down vehicles believed to be involved in crime via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, and focused on areas around Harlow and Epping Forest.

Two vehicles were seized, including one that had been reported stolen from another county.

PC Ross Ashcroft, who co-ordinated the operation, said: "We are targeting organised criminal gangs who are using the road network to commit offences including burglary, theft, and the supply of drugs.

"These criminals are travelling between counties and from one force area to another."

He said forces working together was "invaluable".

"By having specialist officers proactively hunting down vehicles linked to crime, we are making it an incredibly hostile environment for these individuals to operate in and providing a significant deterrent."

It was the sixth time the three forces had worked together, as part of Operation Claymore, resulting in a total of 50 arrests, Essex Police added.

The forces carried out 33 stop and searches, and 23 intelligence reports were submitted.