A WAVE of police raids on the homes of known burglars, drug dealers and car thieves were carried out at dawn today as officers launched a major operation in Blackburn.

The crackdown follows the success of a similar operation 12 months ago, but this time police used the internet in the fight against crime.

About seven houses were raided as the operation got underway and two people were being questioned today at Blackburn police station. Neighbourhood Watch groups across Blackburn are helping the purge which has been labelled Operation Tango.

The crackdown will run for at least two weeks and daily updates on its progress will be posted on a special website set up by the police.

Special phone lines are also being set up at Blackburn police station which will be manned by Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators. The idea is for fellow Neighbourhood Watch organisers to ring in with information for police to act on. Officers will be withdrawn from routine duties so high profile patrols can be deployed across the town.

Mounted patrols are being drafted in and the police helicopter will be rerouted across the town.

Police are also planning a number of undercover operations.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Turner said: "Although we have had good results in Blackburn when it has come to reducing crime recently there have been signs of a an upturn in criminal activity.

"Our intelligence also suggests that certain individuals who are known as prolific offenders have been released from prison.

"We want to send out a clear message to criminals in Blackburn that their offending behaviour will not be tolerated."

Anyone wanting to log on to the Operation Tango page should go to the police website at www.lancashire

.police.uk and look for the special icon under the Eastern Division section.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.