First Operation Artemis of 2025 - seventeen arrested in day of action

Seventeen people were arrested during the first Operation Artemis of 2025 on Friday 31^st 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.

• A 29-year-old man was arrested in Wilson Street in Hartlepool on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent.
• A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the Tithebarn Road area of Stockton on suspicion of the importation of class B drugs. This follows the seizure of 7kg of cannabis. 
• A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and was also wanted on warrant in connection with an assault.
• A 46-year-old woman was arrested for breach of bail.
• Two men aged 42 and 18 and a 36-year-old woman were arrested in Hartlepool on suspicion of section 18 assault. All three were release on conditional bail.
• A 54-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault against a boy under 13-years old and possession of indecent images of children in Redcar & Cleveland.
• A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of breach of notification requirements in the Stockton area.
• A 56-year-old man was arrested in Middlesbrough on suspicion of harassment, following an alleged offence in the Redcar & Cleveland area. He was later charged.
• A 24-year-old man attended the police station as a voluntary attender and was interviewed in relation to a reported rape in the Middlesbrough area. The man was released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.
• A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of rape in the Hartlepool area.
• A 57-year-old man in Hartlepool was detained, but not arrested after he was reportedly found in possession of class C drugs. He was interviewed by officers.
• Two men, aged 35 and 36, were stopped by officers in a Citroen C3 in Hartlepool. Drugs and cash were recovered from the car, and more drugs and cash seized during a subsequent house search.  Both were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and bailed pending further enquiries.
• A 32-year-old man and a 37-year-old man were in Middlesbrough was arrested for being concerned in the production of class B drugs, in connection with a cannabis farm. Both have since been bailed pending further enquiries.
• A 33-year-old man was arrested during a drugs warrant on Penny Avenue in Middlesbrough later in the day, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A and C drugs. He was interviewed by officers and released on bail pending further enquiries.
• A 56-year-old man was arrested in Redcar on suspicion of attempted kidnap, grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary.

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.”