TWO people are currently in custody following drugs warrants issued in Hereford this morning.

Further warrants are set to be executed later as part of the largest operation ever delivered across the West Mercia and Warwickshire Police areas.

More than 50 Herefordshire-basec police officers are clamping down on a number of crimes as part of Operation Protect.

Officers will be clamping down on motorists without tax and insurance while the force will also be raising awareness of child sexual exploitation.

Other areas tackled will be anti-social behaviour.

"At 5am this morning a number of warrants were executed," said Sue Thomas, the local police commander for Herefordshire.

"Two people are in custody in relation to drug supply.

"Officers have also been carrying out ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) work which has seen three vehicles seized."

Officers set out from Hereford Police Station at 6am to execute warrants, joining more than 2,000 members of the Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police workforce for Operation Protect.

It is aimed at showing how every member of the police’s workforce is 'determined and committed' to protecting people from harm 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Police say it is the largest operation ever delivered across all communities served by the alliance.

There will also be community speed watch events, test purchase operations, schools visits to promote online safety, community engagement and crime prevention events.

Individuals from all roles and positions are involved in the day including police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), special constables, cadets, staff and volunteers.