SWINDON DRUGS HOTLINE: THE crackdown on town-centre drug dealing is continuing with seven new arrests.

Heroin worth £1,500 was seized, along with £2,000 in cash after officers mounted a covert surveillance operation to snare dealers.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 40, have been released on police bail until March while forensic tests are carried out.

Police are urging shoppers to call the Swindon Drugs Hotline if they spot any suspicious activity.

Officers say many dealers are so brazen that they operate in board daylight.

Swindon police detective Sergeant Gerry Watkins, who oversaw the operation at the end of last week, said: "We're determined to clear drugs off the streets of Swindon. We rely on information from the public to tell us where there are problems.

"Intelligence on the hotline is helping with the town centre operation. It's not just about catching dealers. We also want to reduce drug related crime like shoplifting and bag snatches."

Police also plan to use new powers to shut crack dens.

But Swindon's fight against drugs is being hampered by cheap heroin, thought to be flooding in from Afghanistan.

Because it is so cheap, many dealers are giving the drug away free to lure youngsters into a life addiction. The cost of a bag of the drug has halved to just £10 in the past year.

Now, drug treatment workers fear the number of addicts is set to rise, fuelling an increase in drug-related crime.

David Cork is the manager of rehab charity Druglink in Old town.

He said: "Dealers want to create a market. They use three-for-two offers, sell bags at half price or give it away free. Because it's now so cheap, I'm worried more will be given away free."

Tamash Lal