Operation Artemis sees 11 arrests, three closure orders and Class A drugs seized

Redcar and Cleveland’s policing district saw varied and intense activity during Operation Artemis.

After an early morning briefing, officers from the Dedicated Drugs Unit and neighbourhood teams carried out several warrants in the Redcar, Grangetown and Guisborough areas, with 11 people arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and more than £6,000 worth of Class A drugs were seized during the warrants.

Five of those people arrested during the warrants were charged and remanded in custody to appear at court on 25^th September:

• A 24-year-old man was charged with three counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and one count of conspiracy to supply Class C drugs
• Another 24-year-old man was charged with three counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, one count of conspiracy to supply Class C drugs and three counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs
• A 23-year-old woman was charged with three counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs
• A 42-year-old man was charged with three counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and one count of conspiracy to supply Class C drugs
• A 42-year-old woman was charged with three counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and one count of conspiracy to supply Class C drugs

Meanwhile other NPTs were out and about in the community carrying out engagement work in libraries, community hubs and supermarkets in Redcar, Guisborough and Dormanstown and making reassurance visits to repeat victims of rural crime.

And with support from Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and local housing providers, they were also successful in securing closure orders on three houses in Skelton, Brotton and Redcar where the local community had complained of ongoing issues with crime and ASB.

Officers also worked with Beyond Housing carrying out vacant property checks to ensure buildings weren’t being used for criminal or antisocial activity.

As usual, the force’s Matrix team played an important role in the Artemis day of activity – with patrols on the district’s roads into the evening targeting nuisance and illegal vehicles.

Roads Policing officers managed to catch 16 people speeding and seized one vehicle for having no insurance. The driver was reported for the offence.

Officers were also out conducting rural crime patrols throughout the day off the back of a successful Operation Checkpoint held last week.

Behind the scenes, other specialist teams were carrying out checks on offenders to ensure they are keeping to any conditions they’re subject to, with other officers arresting outstanding suspects. Officers also delivered talks to students in schools around knife crime and antisocial behaviour.

Redcar and Cleveland District Commander Emily Harrison said: “This extensive and varied activity is what we do 24/7 but by running Operation Artemis it allows us to shine a spotlight on our work and really show the public the scope of what our officers deal with day in and day out.

“Thanks to the work of all the officers involved, as well as colleagues from our partner agencies it’s been a successful day.

“We had 11 arrests, three house closures and carried out lots of public engagement and reassurance work across the district; this work is really appreciated by our communities and it demonstrates our commitment to listening to our residents, asking them for their concerns then taking appropriate action.”