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Seventeen people were arrested during the first Operation Artemis of 2025 on Friday 31st January.
Officers were briefed at Police HQ in Hemlington before embarking on early morning raids and arrest attempts across Teesside, targeting suspects wanted in connection with serious violent offences.
In Middlesbrough, officers conducted a joint visit with Thirteen Group to serve a civil injunction on a 42-year-old man, in connection with domestic violence incidents, robbery, assault and the possession of drugs.
Two off-road bikes were seized as officers in Middlesbrough conducted joint patrols with Middlesbrough Street Wardens using the drone to watch from the sky.
In the Redcar and Cleveland district a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnap, grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary, and another man arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis along with a civil house closure.
Officers in Hartlepool carried out activity with Hartlepool Council Community Wardens to tackle antisocial behaviour, aggressive begging and alcohol related violence. They also engaged with local shop staff around the threat of violence to shopworkers. Two people were found to have drugs and dealt with, three antisocial behaviour orders were issued and a shop was reported to Trading Standards.
Further activity continued into the evening, with checks on and around licensed premises. Sixty people were stop searched by officers, with seven of those dealt with for possession of drugs. Two were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and one person arrested for an outstanding stalking offence.
A drugs dog was taken around licensed premises, which led to a large quantity of drugs discarded which was then recovered by officers.
Community engagement events were held at Wellington Square in Stockton, Thornaby Town Centre and Ennis Square in Dormanstown to raise awareness of the work the force does to tackle serious violence. Mobile digital boards were also displayed across Cleveland with details of how to report people with weapons or those suspected to be involved in violent activity.
Throughout the day officers also delivered inputs around online safety, the ‘One Punch’ campaign and knife crime to pupils at Bankfields Primary School in Eston, Acklam Grange School, Sacred Heart and North Ormesby Primary School, Acklam Whin Primary School, Newham Bridge Primary School and Outwood Academy.
PC Geoff Coggin attended Hartlepool College of Education and delivered educational inputs to sixty students aged between 16 and 19. He talked to the students about the night-time economy and covered the topic of spiking, along with campaigns such as ‘Ask for Angela’, ‘One Punch’ and ‘Carrying a Blade Doesn’t Give You an Edge’.
The Matrix Team patrolled our roads throughout the day, stopping various vehicles of interest. Twenty drivers were dealt with for speeding offences whist 21 vehicles were stopped and given fixed penalty notices and words of advice.
A number of vehicles were also seized across the force area for having no insurance.
Temporary Detective Superintendent Deb Fenny said: “Friday’s day of action focused on the issue of serious violence in Cleveland. This covers weapon related violence, robbery, night-time economy related violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
“We had officers out taking action, arresting people and recovering weapons. We also had officers out engaging with the public in communities associated with violent crime, officers in schools and colleges delivering important prevention messages, officers delivering Claire’s Law disclosures to tackle domestic abuse and officers out in the evening to tackle violence in the night-time economy.
“Serious violence is a wide-ranging issue that affects victims physically, emotionally and psychologically.
“Operation Artemis enables us to showcase a snapshot of the work we do as a force to tackle this issue every single day. Our visibility in our communities on Friday should send the message that we do not tolerate violent crime and will do everything we can to stop it – with enforcement, engagement or education.”