More than a dozen people, including children, have been thrown out of their rented homes after becoming caught up in a crackdown on drugs dens and anti-social behaviour.

In the biggest case brought by West Yorkshire police under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, Bradford magistrates made closure orders on 14 homes in Manningham, Shipley, Clayton, Thornton, Lower Grange, Baildon and in Bradford city centre.

The orders mean that the properties will be boarded up for three months, unless the tenants lodge an appeal or can convince the police that they have put things right.

Another property, in Ford Hill, Queensbury, escaped an order after the bench decided that although considerable nuisance had been caused there was insufficient evidence that Class A drugs were involved.

Adrian Strong, counsel for the police, told the six-hour hearing that 17 people were arrested on Tuesday after officers raided 15 premises.

The crackdown, code-named Operation Constantine, was based on intelligence gathered over the past six months and was aimed at tackling drugs dens and anti-social behaviour such as street fights and loud music. Mr Strong said the Court had the power to order closure if it was established that the premises were involved in the use, production or supply of Class A controlled drugs and that there was disorder and serious nuisance to the public.

The officer in charge of the operation, Superintendent David Oldroyd, told the court that it also involved other agencies such as housing trusts, Bradford Council and the Drug Intervention Programme (DIP).

Everybody caught up in the raids would be given the opportunity to receive help and ten of those arrested on Tuesday had already signed up for assistance from DIP.

"There was a lot of consultation before the decision was made to go ahead with the operation," said Supt Oldroyd. "The local authority and community leaders were present and were aware of what went ahead.

"We looked carefully at criminal and anti-social behaviour hotspots and we are able to look at positive intervention. We felt it was appropriate because of the personal messages I am receiving from the community about the impact of drug taking. The community is sick and tired of being plagued by anti-social behaviour."

The district's nine neighbourhood policing teams had also brought back "a very strong message" about anti-social behaviour surrounding premises used for the taking of drugs," said Supt Oldroyd.

He revealed that when officers arrived to enter one property in Manningham they were met by residents who told them: "Thank goodness you are doing this."

l Orders were made in respect of the following properties: Flat 1, 10 Parkfield Road; Flat 4, 4 Belle View; 19 Gracechurch Street; and Flat 2, 239 Manningham Lane, all in Manningham; 21 Church Street, Shipley; Flat 1 and Flat 6, 152 Crag Road, Windhill; 163 Old Road, Thornton, 3, 15 and 90 Chain Street, Bradford; 58 Charteris Road, Lower Grange;14 Badsworth Court, Clayton, and 97 Coach Road, Baildon.