POLICE have swooped on a house in Emlyn Square in the Railway Village they claim was being used as a crack den.

Officers used new powers to issue a temporary closure notice on the property, which means only tenants are allowed to enter the premises.

Ten people were discovered in the property during last night's raid involving 20 police officers which was planned after information was left on the Swindon Drugs Hotline.

Four suspects were arrested and a small quantity of crack seized.

The raid is the first in Wiltshire to be carried out as part of the nationwide Operation Crackdown.

A closure order is now in place for 48-hours, issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003. Anyone apart from tenants, entering the building is liable to arrest.

Police will apply to magistrates tomorrow for permission to board up the property for three-months.

Anyone entering is liable to up to six months in prison, a £5,000 fine, or both.

The closure warrant is a civil order, which means police need to prove they have "reasonable grounds'' to suspect the house is being used by drug addicts.

In addition, they must show use of the property is causing a nuisance in the neighbourhood.

If magistrates issue the warrant, metal shutters will be installed to stop people entering.

An official notice will be left on the door and letters sent to local residents outlining what has happened.

An officer involved in the raid said: "Information left on the hotline resulted in this raid.

"It just shows we do act on information received, and anyone with intelligence who could help fight the scourge of drugs in Swindon should give us a call."

Thirty-three police forces across the country are involved in Operation Crackdown, which is being led by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Home Office.

Treatment agencies and local authorities are also taking part.

The aim is to reclaim communities that have been brought to their knees by drugs.

Since being launched in 2003, the hotline has led to numerous raids across Swindon.

It played a crucial role in smashing two of the town's most notorious drugs rings.

Tamash Lal