PUBS and clubs that knowingly allow drug dealers to trade on their premises will be shut down, Cambridgeshire Police have warned. Following a series of raids at homes across St Neots last week, Chief Superintendent Mick Gipp has been meeting with brewerie

PUBS and clubs that knowingly allow drug dealers to trade on their premises will be shut down, Cambridgeshire Police have warned.

Following a series of raids at homes across St Neots last week, Chief Superintendent Mick Gipp has been meeting with breweries, asking them to help combat drug dealing.

He told The Hunts Post that officers want to work with the breweries to allow police to shut down pubs or replace landlords who allow drugs to be peddled on their premises.

"Drug raids are just a part of the on-going work we are doing to make St Neots a safer place for those who live in and visit the town," he said.

A four-month undercover drugs investigation resulted in the arrest of eight people in St Neots in the early hours of Friday morning. Around 90 police officers, including a dog unit, raided nine homes, including properties in St Neots High Street, Hen Brook, Mallard Lane, Countess Close, Viceroy Close, Whitehall Walk, Andrew Road, and Duck Lane.

They arrested five men and two women on suspicion of supplying escasty and cocaine.

One further arrest was made at 9am in Barns Close.

The men and women, who are all from St Neots, were taken to police stations in Cambridgeshire. Six of them have since been charged with drugs offences.

Ch Supt Gipp, divisional commander who led the investigation, told The Hunts Post: "We are very pleased with the outcome of the operation. We put a lot of hard work into it.

"Drugs create misery for victims, families and the wider community and they have no place in Cambridgeshire."

Codenamed Operation Jarlshof, the raids took place simultaneously from 3am until 6am and were co-ordinated by officers at police headquarters in Hinchingbrooke.

Each property was later searched by specialist officers and a dog unit.

* Six people from St Neots have been charged with drug offences and were bailed to appear at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court today (Wednesday).

Carol Atkins, 39, of Hen Brook, Carl Sayer, 22, of Countess Close, and Daniel Staines, 23, of Duck Lane, are all charged with supplying cocaine.

Gary Webb, aged 20, of Manor Farm Road, and Sarah Collings, 23, of Hen Brook, are charged with supplying cocaine and ecstasy. Rikki Jefferies, 21, of Mallard Lane, is charged with supplying ecstasy.

Two men, aged 21 and 29, were bailed to return to Thorpe Wood police station on March 7.

INFORMATION: Anyone with information in relation to illegal drugs is asked to contact Cambridgeshire police on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.