Three people were arrested and 16 searched for drugs during a police blitz.

Plain-clothed and uniformed officers from Thanet’s Community Safety Unit worked in and around streets in Cliftonville and Margate and focused on concerns reported about drug use.

In total, the team found nine bags of spice – lab-made chemicals to mimic the effects of cannabis – along with two seizures of cannabis.

Four people were given community resolutions.

During the one-day operation last Friday officers also searched for suspects wanted for outstanding offences.

A 33-year-old man from Margate was arrested on suspicion of assault and burglary. He was released on bail until June 15.

A 27-year-old woman from Margate was arrested and charged with shoplifting in the area and bailed to appear at court next month.

A vehicle stopped in Fort Crescent was found to contain a quantity of cannabis.

This resulted in the arrest of a 24-year-old man from Margate on suspicion of drug driving. He was released on bail until July 19 pending further inquiries.

A second car was stopped in Northdown Road and seized after checks revealed the driver had no licence or insurance and he was given a traffic offence report.

Insp Jim Woodward of Thanet Community Safety Unit said: “Through intensive operations such as this, the neighbourhood teams focus on disrupting the use and sale of drugs and other criminality in the district.

“I hope it sends out the message to potential offenders that there is no easy place to be to break the law.”