Nine charged after Sandwell dawn raids

Yesterday's dawn raids were the fourth over the past two weeks with more planned.

Around 100 officers from across the West Midlands took part in the strike against criminal networks selling drugs and committing crimes to fuel their drug addiction.

The operation has so far seen 35 people charged with drug and handling stolen goods -type offences, with this week's warrants bringing the overall arrest tally to 40.

Homes in Birmingham, Walsall, Tipton and Wednesbury were all targeted.

The following people were charged with various offences and will appear in court over coming days:

• Brandon Coates, aged 18, of Bassett Crescent, West Bromwich. Charged with conspiracy to handle stolen goods. He has been conditionally bailed to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court this morning, 1 May.

• Liam Coates, aged 20, of Monmouth Drive, Hateley Heath. Charged with two counts of conspiracy to handle stolen goods. He has been remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court today, 1 May.

• A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, from West Bromwich, has been charged with conspiracy to handle stolen goods. He has been conditionally bailed to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court today, 1 May.

• Phillip Harper, aged 22, of Chapel Street, West Bromwich. Charged with conspiracy to handle stolen goods. He has been remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court today, 1 May.

• Shane Dukes, aged 20, of Aaron Manby Court, Tipton. Charged with conspiracy to handle stolen goods. He has been remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court today, 1 May.

• Hamza Sufi, aged 23, of HMP Birmingham, has been charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. He is to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court on 8 May

• Claire Hickman, aged 30, of John Dando House, Hamstead. Charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. She has been remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court today, 1 May.

• Robert Hill, aged 42, of Carisbrooke Road, Wednesbury. Charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. He has been remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court today, 1 May.

• Zoheeb Habib, aged 23, of Wilson Road, Handsworth. Charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. He has been remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court today, 1 May.

Spring Safer Six is being led by Sandwell Police's Chief Inspector Jane Parry.

She said: "For the benefit of criminals and for the avoidance of any doubt, let me be absolutely clear - criminals will not be allowed to rest easy.

"Anyone who commits crime anywhere in Sandwell will have our focus turn upon them.

"It may be today, it may be tomorrow, but at some time in the future we will come knocking on your door.

"Come to us now and our nationally recognised offender management team will help you turn your life around."

Safer Six is a long-running Sandwell-based operation which has helped drive down crime levels across the borough to an all-time low. Crime has fallen with 206 less victims of crime in Sandwell over the last 12 months.