COMMUNITIES are being urged to give police information about cocaine and heroin dealers as a new national strategy targeting drug crime is launched.

During the three-month Operation Crackdown police will seek to arrest more Class A dealers and encourge more people to come forward with information on drug criminals.

They will also look to seize dealers' assets and to help more drug users into rehabilitation programmes.

Detective Superintendent Andy Cooke, who heads Merseyside Police's recently formed Matrix team, said: "Operation Crackdown is not just about locking people up, although we are intent on arresting people who are responsible for dealing Class A drugs and making peoples' lives a misery - whether it be communities who suffer from acquisitive crime that comes with drug supply or the families torn apart when a loved one falls into the downward spiral of drug addiction.

"Alongside enforcement, treatment and education to aid the rehabilitation of drug users provide vital elements in successfully tackling drug supply and use."

And he added: "We are urging members of the public to contact us and help us to help them reclaim their neighbourhoods. People do have a choice. They can live next door to drug dealers who have a constant stream of people knocking on their door for their latest supplies and causing problems for them and their families.

l "Or if they don't want their children or grandchildren growing up in this sort of environment they can make a stand by calling Crimestoppers today on 0800 555 111."