ONE of the West Midlands’ top cops returned to the streets as part of a major day of police operations across Birmingham.

Dep Chief Con David Thompson joined police on a raid in Aston.

And police images posted on social networking site Twitter captured him on his knees helping to search the premises for evidence.

The swoop was part of a citywide operation that brought together the four Birmingham policing units in a united blitz on crime.

Mr Thompson, a law graduate and a police officer for more than 20 years who was promoted to the force last May, joined the operation to observe officers in action.

As well as drugs warrants, targeted arrests of wanted offenders and visits to pubs and clubs, police said there were more officers out on the streets.

On-going details of the operation were released on Twitter. Postings on the social networking site revealed arrests including:

* A 27-year-old man on suspicion of drugs offences following a raid in Handsworth.

* A woman held as part of a fraud inquiry following raids in Shard End, Kingstanding and Erdington.

* A prolific offender for shoplifting in Sutton Coldfield