HAMPSHIRE detectives have helped a national crime-busting team crack 122 criminal enterprises in the South East.

New figures released by the National Crime Squad, which has a branch in Southampton, are 70 per cent above target for the first year of operation.

The squad's annual report shows 402 people believed to be involved in serious and organised crime were arrested in 245 operations across the South.

Within the first year £49.7 million of drugs was seized, together with £4.8 million of stolen property. Criminal assets to the value of £11.8 million were traced and crime squad officers helped Customs and other agencies seize another £39.8 million of drugs.

The national squad, which started work in April 1998, was formed from the former six regional crime squads covering England and Wales.

Its Southampton base is one of 44 branch offices throughout the country, comprising detectives seconded from local forces including Hampshire and Dorset.

Doug Milburn, assistant chief constable for the squad's eastern area, which includes Hampshire, said the organisation played a vital role in supporting local forces.

"Organised crime is not some remote international activity," he said.

"Its consequences can feed through to local communities in drugs misuse and the extra level of crime that brings."

He added: "We are now concentrating on major criminals, some of whom had been regarded, until our inception, as being too difficult to tackle."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.