OXFORD'S top cop has warned drug dealers coming from London to "earn their stripes" in the city will be "run out of town".

Superintendent Christian Bunt has vowed to crackdown on members of organised gangs from the capital coming to peddle their heroin and crack cocaine locally.

It is believed about half of the drug dealers convicted since 2012 were from London, although some base themselves in the city, while others find local "runners" to do their business.

The local area commander for Oxford said: "I have been really clear with my staff that we are going to run these people out of town, I'm not having them.

"If you're going to come here and do that, we will target you.

"I will make life very uncomfortable for them and that's something I want the community to know."

He added some vulnerable people in the city were being exploited as the drug lords took over their houses to deal from.

Mr Bunt said dealing often led to other violent crimes being committed and he was determined to eradicate the problem.

In June, 21-year-old drug dealer Charles Noble, from Northolt in London, was jailed for life alongside Billy Johnson, 20 from Northampton, were jailed for life for murdering Abingdon woman Kerry Reeves, following a feud.

Mr Bunt said: "It's not just about drugs, drugs trafficking and dealing links to other offences. With drugs comes violence and that can spill out into the general public."

Latest figures showed drug offences – including trafficking and possession – fell by 25 per cent from 726 in 2014/15 to 547 in 2015/16.

But violent crimes against people in Oxford rose by 35 per cent from 1,879 to 2550 in the same period.

Mr Bunt warned there was "always going to be a market" in Oxford.

He said: "Oxford is a very young demographic, the youngest in the country, we also have a big student population.

"It can happen anywhere. They [drug dealers] could move to Botley, then move to Blackbird Leys.

"It's a city-wide issue we are looking at."

Detective Sergeant James Blackmore, who leads the special drugs squad, set up Operation Bilbo in 2012 to target gangs in Oxford following a spate of stabbings and gang activity.

It was the first of its kind in the city focusing on crack cocaine and heroin dealers and investigating tip-offs from the public.

Initially set up for six months with one sergeant and four PCs, it proved a success and became a permanent team at Oxford’s St Aldates police station.

Sgt Blackmore told the Oxford Mail to date the number of years drug dealers had been locked up for since the operation started totalled about 275.

He added: "There is easy access through transport links such as the M40 and trains and it's an appealing market for them to get out of congested London and establish themselves.

"We are seen as an easy target."

Sgt Blackmore added big organised crime gangs form London were sending members to "earn their stripes" in Oxford.

In the past four years, Sgt Blackmore's team has put away several high profile drug dealers as part of Operation Bilbo.

Kenston McIntosh of Freelands Road, Oxford, receive a three-and-a-half year prison term after CCTV caught him throwing away a sock stuffed with Class A drugs with a street value of £1,460.

Kyran McFarlane was jailed for four-and-a-half years in September 2014 after admitting possessing crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

And Devon Thompson of Rose Hill hid £620 worth of cocaine and heroin in a Kinder Surprise egg.

The Kelburne Road resident admitted possession with intent to supply and was jailed for 32 months at Oxford Crown Court in August 2014.