MORE than 80 men and women were seized in dawn raids by the police in the West of Scotland as part of an ongoing anti-violence initiative.

Strathclyde Police today revealed that 82 people were arrested last Friday and warn that more arrests are likely to be made.

The operation was spearheaded by senior officers attached to a violence reduction task force who had teamed up with local police.

The 24-hour crackdown saw the police target individuals with outstanding warrants for their arrest.

Officers swooped on their homes and arrested 64 men and 18 women.

In the centre of Glasgow, five men and one woman were detained but across North Lanarkshire police brought into custody 28 men and 13 women.

In neighbouring South Lanarkshire another 19 were arrested, 16 men and three women.

Police in Paisley and throughout Renfrewshire detained 11 men while another five - including a woman - were arrested in the Clydebank and Dumbarton areas.

"This latest warrants initiative involved 78 new probationary officers who have just joined the force - it was their first time taking to the streets to deal with violent criminals.

Speaking about this latest campaign, Detective Chief Inspector Iain Cunningham, deputy head of the anti-violence task force, said: "We must make a significant impact on the level of serious violent crime that exists within the force area and disrupt the violent activities of individuals by executing as many as possible of the warrants currently held throughout the force."