Police raid properties across Sheffield to crack down on rival drugs gangs in "turf war"
It's part of a two day operation across the city
Police have made a number of arrests across Sheffield as they crack down on feuding drugs gangs which are bringing terror to the streets of the city.
Officers say a rise in shootings recently is due to a "turf war" between rival groups.
They've been raiding properties across the city as part of a two-day operation to arrest more than thirty suspects identified over the last six months.
DCI Paul Murphy from South Yorkshire Police has been leading the investigation:
"What this investigation did establish quite early doors was that there are a number of active drugs lines across the city and in fact in quite a small geographical area and the fight for that territory in that area has resulted in a number of violent incidents and firearms discharges.
"Obviously members of the public are always concerned when a firearm is let off within their community. The attacks are always targetted against a rival drug gang but that doesn't lessen the fear and harm that this causes to people who live in these communities.
"We've spent a long time gathering incidents, linking all the previous incidents together , and as a result of quite ome significant work in the background by a team of detectives, we've been able to identify over 30 individuals. We will find them and we will bring them to justice."
Police recovered three weapons on Wednesday, including a gun, and arrested at least seven people at eleven warrants.
They say the gangs in Sheffield are using a county lines model, where they exploit vulnerable people, sometimes kids from other parts of the UK, to help them deal drugs.
DCI Murphy says that can have a real impact on lives:
"They target people who are vulnerable in their own right. Whether that be through lifestyle, whether than be through age. Once these people have got involved in gangs, it's very difficult for them to break the cycle because they're indebtted to the gangs - they're indebtted to the people that have shown them their way of life."
The operation across the city will continue on Thursday.