Six arrests and drugs and weapons taken from the streets of Hartlepool in Operation Artemis

Hartlepool saw the streets flooded with officers as they celebrated a year of Operation Artemis – Cleveland Police’s high visibility monthly operation to tackle crime across Teesside.

The day began with early morning raids on properties where drug dealing and associated antisocial behaviour was suspected. 

A warrant was executed at an address on Duke Street in the town, obtained after receiving intelligence from the local community.  A 45-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were then arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs when police raided a flat on Wynyard Road.  Then a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs following the execution of a warrant on Derwent Street.

A man and a woman, both 70, were arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs, production of class B drugs, fraud, handling stolen goods and abstracting electricity, following a warrant on Sandringham Road in the town.  Officers seized drugs and suspected stolen goods from the property.

Then a 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A and C drugs later in the evening when a warrant was executed in Tiverton Grove at around 7pm.  Officers seized a Samurai sword, a machete and hunting knives, along with drugs, medicines and drug paraphernalia from the property.

The Matrix Team were out around The Headland area, checking for off-road bikes and uninsured vehicles using the Automated Number Plate Recognition System, whilst speed enforcement was carried out in the area.

Elsewhere across town, well-known Neighbourhood Officer PC Geoff Coggin visited the Horizon School, The Cambian School and Stranton Primary School where he engaged with pupils on topics such as antisocial behaviour and knife crime awareness.

Acting Superintendent and District Commander Pete Littlewood of Hartlepool Police said: “Operation Artemis showcased the work our officers do day in day out in highly visible way to provide reassurance to our communities and provide reassurance to our communities.  

“We are out there every day tackling both organised crime and lower-level crime, to make our town a safer place for everyone and to safeguard the vulnerable in our communities and will continue with our hard work to tackle criminals and protect our communities.”