Eleven people were arrested and weapons, drugs and suspected stolen property seized in a series of police raids on addresses in York.

Up to 30 officers, including task-force teams, CID, scenes-of-crime staff and drugs dogs, targeted properties on the city's west side in the latest clampdown on York's criminal underworld.

In one haul they recovered a chilling array of weapons, including machetes, swords, knives and coshes which were stowed near doorways and, officers believe, were intended for use on unwanted callers.

They also recovered small quantities of cannabis and scores of items of suspected stolen property.

Eleven people have been released on police bail pending further inquiries. The early evening raids, mainly in the Acomb area and the latest in an ongoing police operation codenamed Lockhart, follow police intelligence work using information gathered mainly from a network of informants.

Detectives said today they had a stark message for criminals: we know who you are, we know where you live, and we know what you're doing.

Det Sgt Phil Roberts of York CID said: "We have a hit-list and it is only a matter of time before their name comes to the top."

According to Det Sgt Roberts, much of the information which has led to the success of Operation Lockhart has been received as a result of a concentrated informant recruitment scheme.

He said: "People would be surprised at the amount of informants we have working on the fringes of the criminal underworld.

"Since July, 1997, we have been actively recruiting informants in various areas of crime, such as burglary, theft and drug dealing."

Det Sgt Roberts said: "People who know or mix with criminals should be aware that we do pay money for information which is treated in complete confidence. We abide by strict guidelines set down by Government and senior police officers."

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