200 police in drug gang crackdown

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Two hundred police officers kicked in doors around the tough Croxteth and Norris Green neighbourhoods and arrested 31 people, seized four handguns, ammunition, Class A drugs and more than £10,000 in cash.

The dawn raids were carried out ahead of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's visit to the city during which she announced a planned ban on deactivated guns this year.

Ms Smith met police, community workers and youngsters at a Croxteth skills centre in a bid to promote the Government's Tackling Gangs Action Programme - aimed at Liverpool, London, Manchester and Birmingham.

She attended the Alt Valley Community Trust and Skills Centre - just a mile from where 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot dead last August. No-one has been charged over his death.

Her visit to the Croxteth centre - which provides vocational work and training for youngsters often seen as unemployable - was to promote the Government's message to teenagers to turn away from criminal gangs. She praised the centre's work and the efforts of the youngsters whose lives have been turned around.

After the visit, the Home Secretary visited nearby Croxteth Community Primary School to deliver the same message to the under-12s.

She said: "I have met people today who previously might have engaged with gangs but have turned away and chosen the alternative and that is an important part of tackling gun and gang-related crime."

She also praised Merseyside Police for Thursday morning's raids, which were led by the force's anti-gun Matrix team.

Chief Superintendent Tony Doherty, head of force operations, said: "Acting on information we carefully planned this initiative over several months and (this) operation is just one example of the force's commitment to tackle drug and gang-related crime in Merseyside." He added: "We are urging members of the public to contact us and help us to help them reclaim their neighbourhoods."