It is pouring down with rain and pitch black dark, and whilst most people are tucked up in bed, police officers are busy helping to fight crime.

The rain is beating down on the side of the police van, it is 5am and we are journeying to a secret location in the borough of Hounslow .

Officers have been spending months gathering intelligence and securing warrant grants and it is now time to raid the first of 11 addresses across the borough of Hounslow.

It is all part of a wider active initiative called Operation Volturnus which was launched on Thursday, September 29 to combat drugs in Hounslow.

So far, as part of the initiative, 45 arrests have been made and significant quantities of controlled drugs and cash have been seized.

The raids were intelligence led

In the early hours of Wednesday November 10, I accompanied around 100 officers from Hounslow police and others from specialist units on a series of dawn raids.

Alongside the officers, Chief Inspector of neighbourhoods for Hounslow Police, Wayne Matthews, was on the raid and from speaking to him, it is clear see that reassuring the community is one of their prime focuses.

11 search warrants were executed

He told me: "Our aim really is to reassure the community, that we're doing all we can in our fight against crime and also the fight against drugs."

"We want Hounslow to be as safe as possible for our communities to live, work and visit."

We pull up in Feltham for our first raid, and all of a sudden there is a sense of urgency- it really is all units go.

I jump out of the van, camera equipment at the ready and follow the many police officers who are almost breaking into a jog on the approach to the address.

Nine arrests were made on the morning of November 9

We turn a few corners and then the house is upon us. The buzzing of what sounds like a drill can be heard, as officers use a specialised mechanism to break open the door.

Before you know it, entry into the address is gained and shouts of "Police, Police" break the night's silence as around 20 officers enter the address.

No arrests are made, and I am whisked away onto raid number two, where a similar drill is executed and two men are arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

It is a short while before the suspects are brought out of the house, where police continue to search the house.

The rain is still pouring down and I am certainly shivering by this point, and it is time for me to leave the officers to carry on with the job in hand - they still have another nine addresses to raid.

Police made arrests at addresses across Hounslow

Although I was fortunate enough to accompany the police on this rare occasion, it is certainly not so rare of an event for them and Chief Inspector, Wayne Matthews says there will be more.

"Every time we take activity, we are delivering further intelligence, that will now be progressed and we will be doing more actitivity," he said.

"We will never give up the fight against crime especially the fight against drugs."

During the raids, on November 9, Hounslow Police arrested nine males on suspicion of a range of offences, including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and an assault on police. One cannabis warning was also issued.

All nine males arrested, aged between 16 and 26, have now been bailed pending further enquiries.

Chief Inspector, Wayne Matthews adds: "My plea to the public is if you have any information in relation to drug dealing or any criminal activity to please call 101, Crimestoppers, or get in touch with us here at Hounslow Police."

You can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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