THE police aimed to turn the tables against criminals across the Avon and Somerset force area in their pioneering Operation Relentless last week.

Ilminster was among the many towns to see dawn raids and a heavy police presence in a bid to track down wanted men and women.

As revealed by the News last week, three arrests were made in raids around the town in just one morning. And in the force area, 300 criminals were caught in the first two days of the operation.

In one swoop, two juveniles in the Somerset East area were arrested within minutes of a walk-in burglary.

Chief Supt Andy Marsh told the News in Ilminster on Tuesday that the operation was geared to law enforcement - catching people who were evading bail and people on outstanding court warrants.