Residents have described how Bestwood has dramatically changed after police carried out a major operation to rid the area of organised crime.
Police said they were committed to claiming back the Bestwood Estate from the 'waning' influence of notorious criminal Colin Gunn.
Gunn left what was described as "a real and perceived vaccum" where some were trading off his reputation.
Operation Reacher was launched in April 2018 after police noticed an increase in guns being fired.
It is now being deployed across the county, with specific police teams set up in areas which include St Ann's, Radford, Clifton, with .
Talking about the Bestwood Operation, Detective Chief Superintendent Gerard Milano, head of crime for Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We did not want to return to the situation we had in the past, where there was an acceptance and tolerance of it on the estate.
"We engaged with the community. There was an active drug supply market and we had to dismantle that command and control and that is what we have done."
Operation Reacher use tactics such as early morning raids and community intelligence to target criminals.
More than £300,000 in cash has been seized, nearly £1.8m of drugs, which includes heroin and cocaine, and hundreds of vehicles have been taken off the street.
They have also recovered handguns and shotguns, with some significant sentences in court.
Motorcyclist Tracy Asher, 51, worked with Operation Reacher after a number of bikes were stolen from Bestwood and then used to commit crimes.
The group - Notts Stolen Motorcycle Hunters and Recoverers - help police track down motorcycle thieves by uploading stolen bikes onto their closed Facebook group.
She said: "Bestwood was terrible. It was all drugs and vehicle thefts. It was quite bad and police have cleared it up.
"It is much quieter - a lot of the crime has gone.
"Operation Reacher is amazing. It will cut the crime down in all areas.
"They have an insight into how crimes are committed and they have got a good rapport with the community.
"Operation Reacher should be rolled out across the whole of England."
Retired nurse Anne Dean, 68, who lives in Bestwood, believes the area has seen a remarkable change compared to the days of old.
"The area seems to be quiet, anti-social behaviour has been reduced," she said.
"I think anything that aims to be preventative, gives an alternative to young people and thwart what gang culture inflicts on them, is to be applauded.
"I feel a lot safer. We don't see the burnt-out cars or youths loitering with intent."
Bestwood mum and nursery nurse Jo Wynter, 39, intervened when her teenage son got involved in gangs after she noticed his behaviour started changing.
She even found a knife in his bedroom drawer.
She said: "There were loads of gangs in Bestwood because there was nothing for the children to do around here. It was intimidating.
"Now when you drive by there are hardly any groups. It has changed the area. We always get something happening but it is isolated not frequent.
"The police cars driving around more often, it has scared them out of the area."
