A SPECIALIST police team which targets the most serious criminals in Worcestershire has made more more than 500 arrests so far, including more than 100 for drugs offences.

The Worcestershire and Herefordshire team has made 515 arrests since it was formed last October. Based in Malvern, the local policing priority team (LPPT South), made 21 per cent of its arrests (more than 100 arrests) for drugs offences, 19 per cent for court warrants, 14 per cent for thefts and frauds, 11 per cent for drug and drink driving and 5 per cent for prison recall.

The uniformed team averaged two arrests per day throughout the year, reported 234 drivers for traffic offences, took 100 uninsured cars off the road, reported 59 drivers for using a mobile phone whilst driving and carried out 301 stop and searches.

Inspector Jamie Francis of West Mercia Police's LPPT South said: "They utilise a mixture of marked and unmarked vehicles in order to target offenders.

"Their role is to target serious and organised crime and to support local policing areas by targeting offenders that pose the most threat, harm and risk. We actively target persons that are wanted by the courts or on recall to prison and our work in this area was recently commented on positively by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.

"The team also supports the force by providing a specialist search capability, method of entry and public order skills. The team have been deployed all over the country in support of public order operations.

"The teams are able to provide a number of officers that can be deployed at short notice anywhere within West Mercia in support of any policing activity in support of the force priorities safer homes, safer people and safer roads."

Last month the team stopped a suspicious vehicle in Worcester which was believed to have been stolen and was being driven on cloned plates.

Three males were detained in the vehicle and cannabis and a knife were found on one of the passengers.

The team also seized a substantial amount of class A and B drugs in Evesham last month.

Two were arrested for drug drive and supply offences. Earlier this year the team seized a lighter resembling a knuckle duster from HMP Hewell.