POLICE carried out drugs raids in Newport - part of a major crackdown on all sorts of crime and a clean-up of three areas.

And a team of ten enforcement officers is also working throughout the week catching fine dodgers and those wanted on bench warrants.

The DVLA is working with officers for three days, towing away untaxed cars. Yesterday they were in Rogerstone.

The week-long Operation Besort in the Bettws, Rogerstone and Malpas areas was launched with a series of drugs raids in the early hours of Monday and today.

Officers executed arrest warrants for both drugs offences and associated property crime.

Of the cars crackdown, PC Eddie Evans, crime and disorder reduction officer for Bettws police section, said: "The cars will be removed off the highway to designated parking areas, and the owners will have to pay a storage charge and go to Bridgend to pick them up."

Throughout the week there will be high-visibility patrols by Newport wardens, PCSOs (police community support officers) and uniformed police officers.

Traffic officers are out during the day, using their automatic numberplate recognition equipment to spot motorists who are committing offences. And on Friday evening, there will be van patrols targeting disorderly behaviour.

Housing officers from Newport council are also working to clean up the area, checking properties to make sure they are tidy.

Skips will be put out for abandoned and unwanted property and extra staff will be sent out in a lorry collecting big items of furniture.

Bettws in Bloom are playing their part by cleaning up gardens belonging to the elderly.

And young offenders are helping to clean up open spaces, such as the front of garages, through the local Youth Offending Team.

Dog wardens are on Bettws estate, rounding up the strays and taking them to the pound.