POLICE bosses are “finally grabbing the bull by the horns” by fighting the war on drugs in Basildon.

Drug squad officers raided a property within the town centre yesterday.

The teams found suspected Class A drugs at the address, and a man who was staying there has been reported.

The action comes a week after the Echo reported former mayor of Basildon David Dadds’ fears that the town was being run by the drug dealers and he had lost faith in the police.

However, yesterday’s actions from the police have been praised by councillors.

Kerry Smith, chairman of Basildon Council’s housing and communities committee, said: “I am pleased to se the police have taken action to get drugs off the town centre streets.

“Just yesterday I saw four police officers patrolling the town centre and was pleased to see that.

“I just hope the police can now keep up the pressure in order to make it a family-friendly town centre again.

“It’s been a long time, but now they’re grabbing the bull by the horns it can be a good way to drive the problem out.”

Basildon mayor David Burton-Sampson, whose ward includes the town centre, also praised the officers’ work and welcomed the news a new town centre police team would be arriving in Basildon before the end of the month.

He said: “It’s a positive move forward with the police taking action like this, and I’m pleased about the incoming Basildon town centre team.

“The situation in the centre is a result of police numbers being cut close to the bone and crime has unfortunately got out of control.

“It’s positive we are now starting to see a slow increase in officer numbers but it will take time to get them back up to where they need to be.

“But that’s what my residents want, and it’s what I want for the communities. We should be made to feel safe.”

He added: “The crime and drugs is very unsettling and deters people from the area.

“But this is good news, and we need a lot more of it in the future.”