Op Artemis: Cleveland Police target violence against women and girls across Teesside

Officers demonstrated their commitment to preventing violence against women and girls during a day of action to further safeguard people in Teesside from harm.

The activity – which took place on Tuesday 19 November – saw officers execute warrants, make arrests, visit shopping centres, supermarkets and community hubs to engage and educate members of the public on what constitutes as violence against women and girls as well as how students at Teesside University can protect themselves.

It comes following one in four females reporting nationally that they have been the victim of some sort of sexual violence or misogyny.

All four districts – Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland – as well as specialist departments took part in the activity which included:

• 17 men and one woman, aged between 23 and 55, being arrested for a variety of offences such as rape, sexual assault, stalking, domestic fraud, breach of a restraining order and domestic abuse common assault. All have been questioned in police custody and released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.
• An operation took place in Stockton and Hartlepool focusing on hotels to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation. It involved plain clothed officers attempting to book a room for a few hours with cash while accompanied by an obviously underage child. Officers observed hotel staff to see if they challenged the booking, or the ages or relationship of those involved, and allowed them a period of time to call the police with concerns. The staff were then informed with inputs from partners at Corner House and Barnardo’s.
• At least 20 licensees were visited by officers with support from partners who provided up to date training on vulnerability to members of staff and the ‘Ask Angela’ national campaign to ensure they know what to do if a customer asks to speak to Angela. 
• Throughout the day officers from the Integrated Sex Offenders Management Unit visited known offenders to ensure they are keeping to conditions or restrictions placed upon them as well as actively pursuing other wanted perpetrators of rape, child sexual abuse and exploitation and domestic abuse.
• Students at Teesside University were visited by our officers to educate on violent incidents against female students, spiking including officers handing students reusable glass covers with straw openings, giving information on how to get financial support and to encourage members of the public to report crimes.

Detective Superintendent Helen Barker, Cleveland Police’s operational lead for safeguarding, said: “This operation shines a light on the work officers are doing every day to further keep women and girls safe in Teesside.

“Within the force we have invested in safeguarding and prevention through utilising specialist roles. This has resulted in there always being availability for victims to receive support whether that’s from specially trained officers or experts via local partner agencies.

“We remain committed to doing all we can to tackle perpetrators, to call out their offending and that we are there to support victims, build trust and confidence and start to change the culture so that our mothers, daughters and family members do not have to put up with this both now and in the future.”

To report a crime please call Cleveland Police on 101 or visit our website, if in danger please dial 999.

There are a range of services available for support that can be found here.