DRUGS and a knife were seized in a police blitz on anti-social behaviour on Portland.

A team of officers, joined by an armed response unit and traffic police, stopped and searched youths in streets and quarries across the island.

Dispersal orders were used and officers responded to any reports drunk and disorderly behaviour.

At a meeting with police earlier this month residents called for more action to deal with gangs – thought to be armed with knives – who are terrorising the island.

On Friday night a drunken man in Easton Square was caught with a knife.

He was arrested and charged with possession of a bladed article before being bailed to appear before Weymouth magistrates.

On the same night two young men were found in possession of cannabis at the car park in Pennsylvania Road.

They were given a warning.

The Portland Safer Neighbourhood team consists of four police officers and two police community support officers.

Inspector Neil Wood, deputy section commander for Weymouth and Portland, has told residents that no more officers will be added to it.

On Friday and Saturday night, 14 officers patrolled the island.

These included two from the armed response unit, two from the traffic unit, two PCSOs and two special constables.

They were called on as part of a new project on the island named Operation Zircon.

Insp Wood hopes it underlines the force’s commitment to solving Portland’s problems.

Briefing his team on Friday, he said: “This is to take on anti-social behaviour and violent crime robustly and also to gain intelligence on those involved in anti-social behaviour and violent crime in order to get ASBOs imposed on those people.

“It’s of particular significance tonight because we’ve had incidents within the last month which has caused a fear of anti-social behaviour on the island.

“I think we all know there is anxiety because of that.

“There are individuals involved in some criminal acts that are causing a disproportionate fear of crime.”

Insp Wood said an armed response vehicle was on call throughout Dorset and he had asked them to visit as part of the their patrols.

Checks were made at four addresses on both nights to ensure bail conditions and ASBOs were being adhered to.

Section 27 dispersal orders – where members of the public can be ordered to stay away from a specific location for up to 48 hours – were also imposed.

On Friday, three youths aged 15 to 16 were sent from outside the Nisa shop on Weston Road and on Saturday a 17-year-old searching for a quarry party was told to leave the island.

Early on Friday a drunken man was told to go home from the Royal Manor playing fields and the next night a drunken youth was restrained by friends near the same spot and taken home to his mother.

Report of parties at Yeoman’s quarry and Nickademus Knob came to nothing.