Subscribe to trusted local news
If you are accessing this story via Facebook but you are a subscriber then you will be unable to access the story. Facebook wants you to stay and read in the app and your login details are not shared with Facebook. If you experience problems with accessing the news but have subscribed, please contact subscriptions@thestrayferret.co.uk. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
30
Sept
Police confirm Harrogate district arrests in 'biggest ever operation'
North Yorkshire Police made 20 arrests in the Harrogate district as part of the biggest operation in its history, the force has confirmed.
Operation Super Tornado Two saw officers deployed across York and North Yorkshire to target serious and organised crime and those causing the greatest harm to communities
The operation was the biggest in the history of North Yorkshire Police and was carried out across 24 hours on September 23.
In Harrogate officers based themselves on Station Square, with increased police presence and a ‘most wanted’ billboard.
Officers also visited City Store on Station Parade during the operation, although the reason for the visit is yet to be confirmed.
A total of 20 arrests were made across the area, with six people charged. Six were released under investigation, there were four police bails, two immigration detentions and a community resolution. One was released without charge.
Across North Yorkshire as a whole, 64 arrests were made, 14 warrants executed, four wanted people located and six weapons seized, as well as 14 vehicles and £3,750 in cash recovered.
Significant quantities of drugs were also seized, including a cannabis cultivation in Northallerton with an estimated street value of around £1 million.
Police bringing in a suspect.
Meanwhile, alongside this enforcement activity, police teams engaged with the public as part of efforts to prevent fraud, rural crime and exploitation, and encourage road safety, and more than 380 children received school visits from officers.
North Yorkshire Police also deployed live facial recognition for the first time in York, which generated 12 positive matches to the individuals on the watchlist. As a result, officers made one arrest, stopped and checked eight individuals subject to Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, and engaged with two people linked to intelligence-related alerts.
Officers also spoke with members of the public throughout the operation, explaining how the technology works, why it was being used, and answering questions from those passing by.
Teams also worked closely with partner agencies and neighbouring police forces, with specialist resources deployed across the road network throughout the force area to target criminals on the move. Criminals do not respect geographical boundaries, and effective policing relies on working together to disrupt those who seek to exploit them.
0