A WOMAN has been arrested by police investigating claims dealers have been selling crack cocaine to patients of Littlemore Mental Health.

Search warrants and arrests have been carried out across the area over the summer.

In one raid, officers said they had discovered £10,000 in cash and class A drugs worth £13,000.

Sgt Alan Coffey, who leads the neighbourhood police team in Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley, said: “This is us acting on community intelligence.

“Drugs are not among the three priorities identified to us by the local community.

“However, because of the im-pact, or potential impact, they can have, we take action when we can.

“As a neighbourhood team, we have spoken to some people who have drug issues, and they have said it is very difficult to obtain drugs in the Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley areas, which we are pleased about.”

Describing individual incidents, he added: “The neighbourhood team executed a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Alice Smith Square on June 26.

“Roughly £10,000 of cash was seized, and £13,000 of drugs, believed to be crack cocaine, was recovered.

“It’s obviously quite a big stash and we have arrested a man in connection with it.”

Sgt Coffey added: “On August 17, we arrested a 29-year-old female for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

“She was stopped outside Littlemore Hospital and I think she was found with 11 rocks which we need to send off for analysis.

“She has been bailed to appear at St Aldate’s police station in October.

“On the same day, we executed a search warrant in Pheasant Walk, in Littlemore, and seized a white substance that is currently being sent off for analysis.

“There have been no arrests but inquiries are ongoing.”

Littlemore parish councillor Dorian Hancock said there was not a major problem in the area.

She said: “Most people who know Littlemore would say drugs aren’t a problem in the same way as they are on the big estates, but there’s a lot of youth crime – stupid things.

“That’s why we have set up the Littlemore Youth Committee to give young people things to do.

“Street wardens cooperate with and filter down information to, police community support officers and over the last six to nine months.

“This has improved tremendously.

“I wouldn’t say drugs are a massive problem in Littlemore, but it’s an issue that certainly needs to be dealt with.”

Winston Freeburn, 30, of Lo-belia Road, Blackbird Leys, was arrested on Friday, September 4 and charged with possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. He remains in custody.