Residents speak out after police swoop to arrest suspected drug dealers in Sheffield suburb

South Yorkshire Police's serious violent crime task force carried out the operation in Sharrow on Monday, March 2.

Officers arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs after the team stopped a car on London Road.

Police also arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of a number of offences, including possession with intent to supply class B drugs, driving whilst disqualified and money laundering.

Two knives were found in the area around the Washington Road flats complex and two vehicles were seized.

A number of residents welcomed the move but also called for increased patrols and CCTV in the area.

Earl Salmon, aged 59, of Washington Road, said: "I think a more frequent and increased police presence would definitely help us all feel safer. On a night is when we seem to have most problems, much of it relating to drugs.

"It’s certainly not the worst area to live in. Many of my neighbours keep in constant communication with me to make sure I am alright and I do the same to them.

"I think everywhere has it's problems and I'm not saying this is a particularly bad area to live in. I just think seeing more of the police around here would only do us favours".

Another resident said: "We definitely have an issue with anti-social behaviour and drugs around here on a night. More often than not, you can actually see drug deals as they're happening.

"I think seeing an increase in police officers would help make people think twice about their actions. Additionally, having more CCTV cameras around the Washington Road flats would surely help to catch more criminals.”

Sergeant Ashley Franklin, from the serious violent crime task force, said: "We are continuing to work extremely hard to deal with issues that are a blight on communities around South Yorkshire"