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Cleveland Police seized nearly £15,000 worth of drugs, many weapons, hundreds of pounds worth of cash and arrested 18 people during a week of action to tackle county lines.
County Lines Intensification week, which commenced on Monday 9th October to Sunday 15th October, saw officers from each district in Cleveland join police forces across the country in the week of action.
Six air rifles, a pistol, baton, four machetes and a flick knife were amongst the weapons seized, as well as over £11,000 worth of crack cocaine.
In addition to this, officers from the Force and partner agencies also participated in the following:
Speaking of the week of action, Detective Chief Inspector Gez Wraith said: “County Lines Intensification Week aims to protect vulnerable people from exploitation and tackle the supply of illegal substances.
“The results have been successful thanks to a team effort from the Force and our colleagues from partner agencies; resulting in removing illegal drugs and weapons from our communities and engaging with and safeguarding a number of people.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in this week of action as it requires a lot of hard work and dedication.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to tackle county lines and would urge anyone who believes someone is being exploited in their neighbourhood or anyone who may have concerns, to contact the police on 101. Alternatively, you can pass information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555 111”.
NEROCU County Lines Co-Ordinator Ian Randell, said: “This latest intensification week has delivered more great results, but we want to reassure the region that our commitment to taking action doesn’t end here. Our work tackling County Lines happens year-round, with dedicated teams building intelligence, shutting down deal lines, arresting suspects and protecting those being exploited.
“Under the banner of Operation Sentinel, our dedicated regional initiative to tackling serious and organised crime, we will continue to work with partners and pursue offenders, shut down their lines, and work with young people and those who have been impacted by this abhorrent crime.”
James Simmonds-Read, National Programme Manager at The Children’s Society, said: "Making sure that police forces and other experts can detect the signs of exploitation in young people is vital. These signals can be subtle so it's encouraging to see that more young victims can now get the help they urgently need. Our #LookCloser campaign, bolstered by the support of Cleveland Police is pivotal in raising awareness of these issues.
"As the nights draw darker, we urge members of the public and businesses to stay vigilant. Spotting signs of child exploitation, especially in settings such as fast food joints, taxis and hotels is crucial. Any young person can be targeted, anywhere, but these places are often used to target, move, and abuse young people."