TWO suspected heroin dealers awoke to the sound of police smashing down their front doors during raids in Swindon yesterday.

Officers forced their way into the houses, conducted searches with the help of a drugs dog, and confiscated a quantity of heroin and drugs paraphernalia, including crack pipes.

Police were granted the drugs warrants – executed in the early morning – after several residents in Penhill and Westlea complained that dealing was taking place in and around the properties.

Sergeant Tim Titchener, of the West Swindon police sector, said: “Both warrants were positive and we had one arrest.

“We don’t want drug dealers to feel comfortable in Swindon – the message is if you deal drugs, you will face the consequences.”

He added: “It is a blight on everbody’s lives when there is a heroin dealer or a crack dealer within your community.

“It is very important we keep up the fight against drugs and continue to act on community intelligence so we can deal with it effectively.”

The raids involved police officers and PCSOs from the West Swindon Neighbourhood Police Team, as well as Kada, Wiltshire’s drugs and firearms dog.

The first raid took place at about 6.15am at a council home in a block of flats in Grafton Road, Penhill.

Police parked around the back, climbed the stairs to the second floor and used a ram to force the door, which was barricaded against the wall with a plank of wood.

Officers strip-searched the couple inside before searching the house, along with a maroon Renault Megane and a light blue Peugeot 405 which were parked outside.

In a small box on a kitchen work surface, they found a small quantity of heroin wrapped in kitchen foil and a lighter. They also discovered some rolled up burnt foil and more lighters on a kitchen windowsill.

A 38-year-old man, who lives at the address, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a class A drug and taken to Gablecross police station for questioning.

The second raid, which also involved two firearms officers, took place at about 7.55am at a rented terraced house in The Chesters, Westlea.

As police rammed the door, smashing the glass panel, the occupants started shouting abuse and ran downstairs.

The couple claimed they would have open the door if the officers had knocked and pointed out there was a 16-month-old child in bed upstairs.

A pitbull terrier dashed out of the house, but was kept docile by an officer with a tennis ball and was eventually put on a lead.

Police strip-searched the couple and combed the property, including the garden and shed.

In a kitchen drawer, they found three crack pipes, two rolls of cling film, kitchen foil and burnt kitchen foil.

The paraphernalia was confiscated but no further action could be taken as the items are not illegal unless used in conjunction with illegal substances.

The couple wanted the police to pay for the door, but officers are not obliged to cover the costs if drugs or paraphernalia are found.