Five people have been arrested after a knife and cannabis were recovered during a dedicated policing operation in Sheffield.

On the night of Friday, February 23 and into the early hours of Saturday resources from across South Yorkshire Police worked together on “Operation Scorpion”.

The operation works to support ongoing efforts to tackle violent crime and associated drug use in the night time economy.

Six people were stopped and searched as well as two vehicles and a house. A car was also seized which was being driven by someone over the drug driving limit.

Fifteen night time economy venues were visited, during which drug checks were carried out in the toilets.

The operation, which is a part of the Grip programme, is funded by the home office and aims to reduce the most serious violence through targeted hotspot policing and problem-solving initiatives.

Sergeant Simon Kirkham, who led the operation, said: “People who live in and visit our city should be able to visit the night time economy without fear of violence and that is why it’s really important that we enforce against the criminal activities which we know sadly often lead to violence, such as drug-use and supply.

“By detecting and disrupting this criminal behaviour, and displaying a high visibility police presence, we are able to show the public that we continue to keep the public safe and deny criminals a place in our communities.”

He also said that a high level of visible police presence meant they were able to show the public that they continue to protect the public and deny criminals a place in our communities.

South Yorkshire Police was one of 20 forces to receive a share of the National Grip fund last year worth £29m.