A surge in police activity for the Labour Party Conference has helped nail dozens of criminals - before the event even begins.

Suspected drug-dealers are among those who have fallen foul of extra patrols laid on to protect the politicians coming to Brighton and Hove for this week's conference.

The biggest success so far has been the seizure of £11,000 cash and a stash of what are believed to be class A drugs after a routine stop and search on the roads coming into the city.

A £5.7 million “ring of steel” is being erected around the conference site at the Brighton Centre, The Grand and Hilton Brighton Metropole in King’s Road, Brighton.

Monitoring of traffic travelling in and out of the city in the lead-up to the event has already led to 19 arrests.

Those included a man wanted for robbery and a suspected car thief.

Tickets have also been issued to dozens of drivers without tax or insurance and four unroadworthy vehicles have been seized.

Police are bracing themselves for protests due to coincide with the start of the conference on Tuesday.

Visit The Argus website tomorrow for live coverage of the protests at the launch of the conference.