24 people arrested by Cleveland Police during county lines week of action
Cleveland Police arrested 24 people and seized more than £160,000 worth of drugs during a week of action tackling county lines.
County Lines Intensification week, which commenced on Monday, February 27th, saw officers in Cleveland join other police forces across the country taking part in the week of action.
County lines is when children or vulnerable people are exploited or coerced by organised crime groups into transporting, selling and/or storing illegal drugs or money.
During the operation, several warrants were executed in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland, which led to a number of arrests.
More than £150,000 of cash was seized, along with drugs and weapons.
A total of 18 men, five women and one male youth, were arrested for a variety of drug offences including possession of Class A, B and C drugs and possession with intent to supply, and six people were arrested and charged with a variety of other offences.
Drug warrants
Following one warrant on Nut Lane, Middlesbrough, two men aged 29 and another aged 36 were arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
All three men appeared at court on March 1st.
Another warrant at Furness Street, Hartlepool, saw officers seize drugs and weapons and arrest two men on suspicion of drug offences.
A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Both have been bailed pending further enquiries.
One property on Bush Street in Middlesbrough was also made subject to a premises closure order related to anti-social behavior.
Proactive activity
During the week, drug dogs were deployed to both Middlesbrough train and bus stations as part of action held in conjunction with the British Transport Police (BTP).
A knife arch, which scans people as they walk through it and alerts officers if someone is carrying a metal object, was also used during these operations.
As a result, a number of people were stop searched and a total of 10 passengers were found with drugs.
Officers also carried out a three-day Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operation to tackle drug driving.
Safeguarding and awareness
A total of five adults and five young people were safeguarded and referrals were made to partners in relation to vulnerable youths and adults involved in county lines activity.
Officers also carried out engagement and awareness events with schools and hotels and stickers were also placed in taxis across Cleveland raising awareness of county lines.
Inform police of any concerns
Chief Inspector Jon Tapper said: “This year’s County Lines Intensification Week has yet again shown our commitment to tackling the supply of illegal substances and protecting vulnerable people from exploitation.
“Through proactive policing operations and a renewed drive on raising awareness of these issues, we are determined to bring to justice those seeking to exploit others by forcing them into a criminal lifestyle.
“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed towards making this County Lines Intensification week a success, resulting in some really fantastic results.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to tackle county lines, but information from the public remains vital. We will always listen to the concerns of residents as we know drug dealing has a huge impact on our communities.
“If you believe someone is being exploited in your neighbourhood or if you have any concerns, I would urge you to contact the police.”
You can report concerns about County Lines to Cleveland Police via the 101 number.
Alternatively, you can pass information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555 111.