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18
Nov
Harrogate shops targeted in police crackdown on high street crime
Police targeted 10 Harrogate district businesses as part of a national crackdown on high street crime.
Operation Machinize 2 was a month-long initiative led by the National Crime Agency, which tackles serious and organised crime.
Every police force in the country supported it.
The operation focused on high street businesses such as mini-marts, barbershops, vape shops, nail bars, and car washes, which are sometimes used for laundering money earned by crime.
The operation targeted 2,734 premises across the UK.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said its officers visited 77 businesses.
Six illegal workers were arrested in relation to their immigration status, illegal vapes were seized from four shops and illegal cigarettes were seized from two.
Ten businesses were visited in the Harrogate district and 27 people were spoken to, but no arrests were made.
Detective Superintendent Fionna McEwan from the force's major and serious organised crime team, said:
We're pleased with the successful deployment of this operation in North Yorkshire, the results further highlight the importance of partnership in combating the exploitation of vulnerable people in our communities.
This continuous work from all partners is assisted by members of the public who alert us to any suspicious activity - it really can help, so don't hesitate to report this to us.
The NCA estimates that at least £12bn of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year.
Across the UK, Operation Machinize 2 saw over £10.7 million worth of cash and high-value goods seized. Over £2.7m of criminal tobacco, vapes and drugs were destroyed.
It followed a similar operation earlier this year.
Sal Melki, senior lead for Machinize 2 at the NCA, said:
“Over the course of the month, we have learnt a lot about the threat, the different types of offending occurring on our high street and what tactics are effective in combatting it."
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