CALLS have been made for more neighbourhood officers as police have been praised for their work to tackle drugs.

On Thursday, five people were arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs after police raided two properties on Greengate Street and Longway.

Barrow mayor and Risedale councillor, Kevin Hamilton, has called for more neighbourhood policing following the arrests.

He said: “The quicker we can bring in more neighbourhood policing and PCSOs the better, as that way we know what is going on in our communities.

“We have got a good police force, but we need to revert back to neighbourhood police forces, where residents actually know their local police officers and can talk to them.”

Fellow Risedale councillor Hayley Preston believes there needs to be more education about drugs.

She said: “We know how much of a blight, the surrounding troubles and how prevalent drug dealing is in the town. We praise the work of the police and the crackdown of known drug dealing and support them in their efforts. I would be keen for more education about drugs and their long-term effects. I know the county council and schools have been working with each other about the issues surrounding drugs, so I think that is a good start to informing the public more about this.”

Included in the five arrests was a 52-year-old man from Barrow, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.

A 22-year-old man from Liverpool was also arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.

36-year-old man from Norwich, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and failure to comply with notification requirements on the sex offender’s register. A 48-year-old woman from Barrow, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply of two Class A drugs. A 41-year-old woman of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and possession of a Class B drug. All five remain in custody.