A SPECIAL police operation - with the theme of Spring clean - has been hailed a success. The drive - which is part of Operation Relentless - has included a number of events including truancy sweeps and test purchasing for underage sales of alcohol. Durin

A SPECIAL police operation - with the theme of Spring clean - has been hailed a success.The drive - which is part of Operation Relentless - has included a number of events including truancy sweeps and test purchasing for underage sales of alcohol.During the past week, 12 youngsters have been identified for playing truant from school.Police also assisted North Somerset Council with an environmental action day clean-up on the Long Ashton bypass.Crews, backed up by mechanical sweepers, collected 80 bags of rubbish from the roadside, together with around two tonnes of silt during the operation.The convoy was given a police escort to ensure the safety of those working on the clean-up.North Somerset Police sector inspector Steve Date said: "The operation went very well, the clean-up looked impressive and, as the convoy moved along the road there was little disruption to traffic."Additionally a number of misuse of drugs search warrants were served when police visited premises in North Somerset suspected of involvement with drugs.A number of people have been arrested for suspected drug offences and substances seized for forensic examination.Seven mini mopeds were also seized this week and crushed as part of a new get-tough policy by North Somerset police.Head of operations in North Somerset Superintendent, Julian Moss, said: "This latest operation has involved us working closely in partnership with North Somerset Council and the theme is about improving the environment."Complementing this has been the more routine policing work of removing criminals from our streets.