A police blitz on criminals in Bradford saw five suspects locked up in its first three hours.

The arrest tally reached 12 as around 100 officers targeted crime hotspots in the two-day Ring of Steel operation. Police were joined by agencies such as the Park Ranger Service, Customs and Excise and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority in the crackdown across the Bradford North division.

By yesterday lunchtime five arrests had been made including a suspected drug dealer from the Ravenscliffe estate.

A quantity of drugs were recovered from the house and a high-value car, which was found covered by tarpaulin in the front garden, was removed to be stripped down and examined.

Another man was detained on suspicion of burglary and three more arrests were made of people wanted on warrants.

Inspector Adrian Lyles, from the Bradford North division, said: "Decent people are trying to live their lives and are being interrupted and disrupted by an element who are breaking the law day by day. Every crime produces a victim. We want to reduce the number of victims and that is what we are doing."

During the blitz, police were targeting robbery, burglary and vehicle crime hotspots in Manningham, Allerton, Girlington and Heaton.

Officers on horseback joined the Park Ranger Service to give a visible police presence in parks, targeted by muggers.

Over two hours, 12 drivers who were not properly licensed were stopped in vehicle licence checks in Thornton Road.