A POLICE boss has predicted a spike in gun and knife crime if drug gangs are allowed to prosper in the city.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell warned that major organised crime outfits are trying to extend their drug empires into south Worcestershire.

His officers launched Operation Blade in September as part of an effort to push back the cross-border gangs.

The ongoing operation has already resulted in 21 arrests, closures of drug houses and seizures of heroin and crack cocaine.

Supt Purcell, police commander for South Worcestershire, warned that the 'county lines' gangs often target vulnerable residents as a way to set up in the city.

He said: "Worcester has been identified - from the work of my officers and nationally - as somewhere organised crime groups are targeting as it's considered to be quite affluent.

"They cross county lines to come into Worcester. Organised crime groups from major cities try to expand their business into smaller locations in a bid to take the market for drugs.

"The county lines phenomenon has been happening for a number of years. It's relevance in Worcester has risen through the summer.

"We believe that has happened because organised crime groups talk to one another and will notice where people are gaining profit from and try and move in on that."

Supt Purcell said his officers realised that gangs from outside the area were operating in the city after an unusual series of violent acts, including stabbings and even the use of a crossbow.

He said: "These were peculiar. Often knife crime is used in arguments between people that know each other, it's not used on the street. This was more random and out on the street."

The police boss said they traced some of the arrested gang members back to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, London and elsewhere.

He wants to reassure members of the public that the issue is now under control, with the police crackdown resulting in a number of successes.

He said: "Since the start of the operation in September the team has arrested 21 people from six different county lines [crime groups].

"10 people have been charged and remanded for offences, such as drug supply and money laundering, the other 11 remain under investigation.

"We have seized large amounts of Class A drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin, 50 mobile phones and £7,000 in cash.

"Two addresses have been closed through closure orders, which prevent anyone returning to them and drugs being dealt from them."

The Worcester News previously reported on officers closing drugs dens in Teme Road, Worcester, on Thursday, November 9, and Shepherds Place, Droitwich on Tuesday, November 14.

Supt Purcell emphasised that the crime groups target vulnerable local residents, who are either disabled or suffer from drug and alcohol problems.

The criminals then exploit them through a process known as 'cuckooing' and set up drug houses in their properties.

He encouraged anyone who thinks their relative is a victim of 'cuckooing' to contact the police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The police boss added: "We can only do this if we get good reports.

"Often people will think when they report things nothing is happening.

"But we gather the information. Then we work to establish what we can do about it."

The new police team leading Operation Blade is made up of 15 members of staff.