New arrest after anti-drug raids

Police broke down doors at dozens of homes in Southampton

Police have arrested a 55th person following a series of drug raids across London, Berkshire, Hampshire and the West Midlands.

A 40-year-old man from Sutton, in London, was arrested on Monday in Southampton on suspicion of supplying class A drugs and money laundering.

Fifty-one people have been charged with a range of offences while three were released on police bail.

The raids, which took place last Wednesday, involved 800 officers.

Codenamed Operation Phoenix, it was the result of an 18-month investigation led by Hampshire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

Thirty-eight properties were raided in Southampton, 15 in London, one in Slough and one in Solihull.

Metropolitan Police officers raided addresses in west London, Tottenham in north London, Sutton and Croydon.

The charges against the 51 include supplying Class A drugs, forgery and counterfeit offences, possession of firearms and handling stolen goods.