POLICE launched a crime crackdown in a Newport community after locals complained vandals, drug dealers and car criminals were making life a misery.

Operation Balize - targeting car crime, drug trafficking and anti-social behaviour in Maindee - ran from Wednesday until yesterday.

The police action was part of Operation Maple, which has an overall aim of driving down car crime figures in Gwent.

During Operation Balize, uniformed and plain clothed police, police dog units, an automatic number plate retrieval (ANPR) vehicle and a drugs team were used.

Sergeant Rod Grindlay, the operational commander, said: "Operation Balize shows the commitment of Maindee police to give reassurance to the public that we will continue to target offenders who are committing offences and disrupting people's lives."

Sergeant Grindlay said police, as part of Operation Balize, were targeting the problem of stones and fireworks being thrown at vehicles in the George Street Bridge area.

He praised the public for supplying much of the information.

Arrests made included alleged drugs possession, alleged possession of an offensive weapon and car crimes including alleged thefts from and of vehicles.

Following Operation Balize, police in Maindee will this week be giving out leaflets offering advice on car security in the problem areas of Broadmead Park, Moorland Park and the area around Maindee police station

From October 20 to 24, a leaflet drop will be carried out at Maindee homes where unattended vehicles have been found with items on show inside.

Sergeant Grindlay said: "We appeal to the public for more information, no matter how trivial it may seem. It will all go into our intelligence system and will be used in making more arrests."