12
Jun 2024
Series of arrests as police blitz Harrogate district in day of action
Several arrests have been made across the Harrogate district today as part of a police day of action.
The exercise, codenamed Operation Tornado by North Yorkshire Police, saw more than 50 officers deployed across the area.
Six people were arrested in connection with a series of burglaries, according to a police statement.
They included two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, who were arrested in connection with a “high-value burglary and vehicle theft” in Harrogate, as well as possession with intent to supply drugs.
A man in his 30s was arrested in connection with a separate vehicle theft in Harrogate, while a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of retail theft offences in Knaresborough.
Two people were arrested after drug warrants were issued in Harrogate and Ripon. Police said the incidents recovered a “significant amount of drugs”.
GBH charge
Today's statement said six wanted people were taken into custody as part of the operation.
A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, while a man his late teens was arrested in connection with supplying drugs, the statement added. Their locations were not disclosed.
Operation Tornado, which was introduced by new chief constable Tim Forber, has seem similar blitzes previously in York, Scarborough and Ryedale.
Chief inspector Simon Williamson, whose command area covers the Harrogate district, said:
Today’s operation has a wide scope but its purpose is straightforward: to prevent crime and proactively target those who commit it.
Burglary, shoplifting, drugs and violent crime in particular are offences that our communities quite rightly expect us to be tough on.
And while we deal with these 365 days a year, today’s arrests highlight how decisively we respond to criminality in North Yorkshire, especially when we focus lots of resources on a single area.
Police on patrol today.
Extra foot patrols
Extra foot patrols and drop-in events have occurred in Harrogate town centre, Jennyfields, Bilton, Starbeck and at the Harrogate synagogue.
The statement added burglary prevention leaflets were handed out, while the off-road motorbike team has been “targeting illegal riding on paths in rural areas”.
Chief inspector Williamson also said:
We’ve also had scores of officers on the beat and doing face-to-face crime prevention work, as it’s absolutely vital that we continue to work closely with residents, businesses and other organisations in the district.
The Harrogate district is already a very safe area and North Yorkshire is officially one of England’s safest counties. By working together and using police resources tactically like this, we can ensure it remains that way.
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