Police raidSWINDON DRUGS HOTLINE: DRUG dealers who plague Swindon's streets are today warned that police are on their tail. The warning comes after a spate of arrests, many of which were linked to the Swindon Drugs Hotline.

In a shocking indictment of the current drugs scene, police have charged a 16-year-old boy with possessing a revolver and peddling heroin and crack cocaine.

The teenager who was just 15 when he was arrested is believed to be the youngest person charged with a firearms offence in Swindon.

He is accused of possessing a .22 double action Sentinel revolver recovered during a raid on a house in Toothill last year.

The boy is also charged with possessing ammunition.

He has only just been charged because of the time needed to carry out forensic tests on the gun, and will appear at Swindon youth court next month.

A crackdown over the past few days has resulted in several arrests.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in the town centre yesterday. Nearly 50 wraps of heroin were recovered worth between £500 and £1,000. The man was arrested in an alleyway by the David Murray John building as part of an ongoing covert operation.

Two people have been charged with selling drugs in the Sussex Square area following calls to the hotline.

A 39-year-old woman has been charged with laundering £20,000 of cash and possessing crack cocaine following tip-offs on the phoneline.

And drug users are also being targeted by police.

Thomas Kennedy, 30, appeared in court yesterday and admitted possession of cannabis and heroin and a firearm offence (see panel below).

Police also have more crackhouses in their sights. New powers mean the police and Swindon Council can close premises used by drug addicts and evict tenants.

A filthy drugs den in Station Road was boarded up last week.

And last month three people were sent packing when a crack den which was causing misery for residents in the Railway Village was shut. Each sector inspector has been told to report any such properties on their patch for closure.

Detective Sergeant Gerry Watkins, who heads Swindon's drugs unit, said the net was tightening on the dealers.

And he urged Adver readers to help by calling the hotline if drugs are a problem in their neighbourhood.

"We will never give up the fight against those who tear lives apart by selling drugs," he said.

"The hotline is pivotal in our operation, and I would plead for any information readers have about the drugs trade.

"You have to remember that dealers are making money from ruining young people's lives."

Police are currently targeting the town centre with an undercover operation, and are keen to hear about anyone seen dealing in the area.

Tamash Lal