Drug users, drinkers and people behaving anti-socially have been targeted as part of a summer-long operation in Sheppey.

Officers are focusing on Sheerness East and West, which have been identified as crime hot spots.

They have arrested 31 people, carried out 95 spot checks and seized 123 cans or bottles of alcohol from 68 different people who were either underage or were abusing the rules of the alcohol control zone.

Seven fixed penalty notices have been issued for offences such as possession of Class B drugs and one drugs warrant has been executed.

Two vehicles were seized for having no insurance and two warnings have been issued to people using vehicles in an anti-social manner.

Three people behaving in an anti-social manner have also been moved on.

The Neighbourhood Task Team, which supports the area’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, is running the operation.

Task Team Sergeant, Andy Bell said: “This is a high profile operation sending a very clear message to offenders.

"The results show that we are already making a big difference – we are making people think twice about committing crime.”

Sgt Bell said raising public confidence on the Island was a key part of the operation and the feedback officers had received from residents had been very positive.

“We have already made a massive impact in terms of tackling crime and we still have over a week to go," he said.

"Once the operation comes to an end we will be working hard with partner agencies to make sure we build on the good work we have achieved so far.”

Officers have been using a range of tactics to reduce crime in the town including covert and foot surveillance, speed enforcement and intelligence-led policing as well as high profile visible patrols on foot and in marked cars.