The drugs capital of the UK has won an award for tackling the problem.

Recent crackdowns in Brighton and Hove have seen more than 100 arrests and there has been a big drop in the number of drug-related crimes, including burglaries.

City police and their partners have received a Home Office commendation, which will be presented at the fourth annual "Tackling Drugs Supply Conference and Awards" on March 23 and 24 at the De Vere Grand Hotel in Brighton.

They have been recognised in the category for best example of enforcement linkage with the drugs interventions programme.

A city police spokeswoman said: "The award recognises the work the police, the citys Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) and Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) have undertaken over the last year to tackle drug dealers in the city and, for the first time, to tackle the drug users - targeting both the supply and the demand."

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Bartlett, head of CID, said: "For several years the city has had the unenviable title of being the drugs death capital of the UK.

"The fact that there were such high numbers of drug addicts in the city meant that it had a huge impact on everyone. As we know addicts usually resort to criminal activity to feed their habit.

"The vast majority of acquisitive crime such as burglaries, robberies, theft and vehicle crime, in the city was to enable drug users to fund their addiction."

Last year, the Home Office awarded city police and the DAAT £112,000 to finance Operation Reduction to help more drug users get the care and support they need.

The aim was to increase the number of drug users in treatment services, to cut crime in hotspot areas, reduce fear of crime, and increase the number of people charged with supplying drugs and the amount of drugs seized.

The city police spokeswoman said: "In October 2005, after four months of intelligence gathering and investigations, Operation Nine saw an intensive twoweek policing operation which for the first time tackled drug dealers and drug users."

She said the crackdown saw drugs charges increase by more than 1,000 per cent.

There were 101 arrests.

Fifty-one people were charged with supplying, and 11 were convicted. Fifty people were charged, cautioned or bailed for burglary, robbery and growing cannabis.

Seizures included 12g of crack cocaine, 1.06kg of heroin, 117g cocaine, 888g amphetamine and 21kg cannabis.

Crimes have also fallen over 90 days to January 31:

burglaries by 12.5 per cent, vehicle crime by 33.9 per cent, robbery by 58.1 per cent, and anti-social behaviour by 32.7 per cent.