COUNCIL tenants who are sick of their neighbourhoods being turned into drug dens have helped police arrest dozens of suspected heroin dealers.

More than 30 people have been arrested during an operation to combat drug dealing in Newcastle and North Tyneside.

Homes as far away as London and South Yorkshire were raided during Operation Trinity - a six-month initiative by officers from Wallsend and the east end of Newcastle.

About 100 officers were involved in arresting suspected dealers at 25 homes. Of the 34 arrested, 16 have been charged with supplying or being involved in conspiracy to supply heroin. Seven others have been bailed.

Drugs including heroin, amphetamine and cannabis with a street value of £6,000 were also recovered.

Councillor Barry Phillipson, chairman of Newcastle Community Safety Partnership, said: "This operation demonstrates that the people of Newcastle are behind the police efforts to take drug offenders out of our communities.

"The information used for Operation Trinity has come directly from the public, including through their local housing offices."

Detective Inspector Mick Paterson, who led the operation, said officers were working closely with Drug Action Teams to try to break the cycle of drug abuse.

He said: "Research has shown a lot of core crime such as burglary and thefts are carried out by drug addicts trying to fund their habits. That is why we are working with our partners to ensure all those arrested are offered access to treatment programmes in a bid to break the cycle.

"We want to reassure people that drug dealing will not be tolerated anywhere."

Operation Trinity is the latest in a number of initiatives to tackle drug dealers in the Northumbria force area. Earlier this month, a kilo of heroin worth £40,000 was seized in Wallsend along with £90,000 in cash.