Police in drugs raid

As students milled around the school entrance during their lunch break police broke down a door in Southdown Road with a battering ram, while another squad burst through an open door at a house opposite.

Twelve officers carried out an intensive search of both houses before police sniffer dogs were sent in.

Cannabis and an Aladdin's cave of electrical equipment were discovered. Among the haul were 200 mobile phones, 40 video recorders and dozens of car radios.

At the council-owned house where the cannabis was seized, drug-related graffiti covered a bedroom's walls.

Searches continued for four hours. The confiscated haul entirely filled a police van.

Police took action after it received tip-offs drugs were being sold in the area.

Sgt Dave Kemp said: 'Our primary objective was to find drugs on those premises. All information came from members of the public. The warrants were carried out to drive down crime and the misuse of drugs.'

He warned: 'If necessary we will return when we have fresh evidence.'

A woman was arrested for the possession of cannabis and a man on suspicion of theft and possession of stolen goods.

Accompanying the police on the raids on Thursday last week were the Sussex Express and the Mayor of Newhaven, Cllr Dennis Forsdike.

He was impressed with the way officers carried out the swoops. 'I thought the police officers acted in a proper and professional manner,' he said.

The Mayor said: 'While the raids were taking place children were walking past and going back to school. I hope this sends a message to them to be very careful.'