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06
Jul 2023
Police say new drugs gang causing wave of violence in Harrogate
Police say a new county lines drugs gang is responsible for a recent wave of violence in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Police said today it had seized a taser, drugs, cash and a mobile phone from the town's streets since it set up a new unit to tackle the gang at the start of June. Nine people have been arrested.
They said the new county line is believed to originate from West Yorkshire and was trafficking drugs into Harrogate via the road network and public transport.
Detective Chief Inspector Fionna McEwan, who is leading Operation Roll, said:
The new gang is believed to be from West Yorkshire.
DCI McEwan said Harrogate remained "one of the safest places to live in the country" but urged members of the public to "help us by being vigilant and checking in on the younger and vulnerable people in our communities".
Several specialist officers have been assigned to disrupt the new drugs line.
A police statement said:
Police drugs dos are being used as part of the investigation.
Recent arrests
North Yorkshire Police provided the following details of recent arrests,
Assault on Dragon Road, Harrogate – Thursday, June 8
A man in 20s who was assaulted on Dragon Road in Harrogate sustained a serious injury to his leg.
An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing a wounding and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
A second man, also aged 18, was arrested on suspicion of causing a wounding, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, and possession of criminal property.
A third man, aged 52, was arrested on suspicion of processing criminal property and assisting an offender.
All three men were charged and remanded in custody to appear in court on York Crown Court on Monday, July 10.
(NYP Ref – 12230104602)
Police stop on Chelmsford Avenue, Harrogate on Friday, June 23
At 9pm officers from Operation Expedite were on routine patrol on Chelmsford Avenue when they identified three men suspected to be linked to county lines drug dealing. The three men spotted the officers and ran away. The team managed to detain two of the three men.
An 18-year-old man was in possession of a taser, 22 wraps of cocaine, £85 in cash and two mobile phones. He was arrested on suspicion of procession with intent to supply a class-A drug and possession of a weapon. He was charged and remanded in custody to appear at York Crown Court on Monday 31 July 2023.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and possession of criminal property. He was interviewed and released on conditional bail while further enquiries are carried out.
Enquiries are continuing to locate the outstanding suspect.
(NYP Ref – 12230115980)
DCI Fionna McEwan is leading the police investigation.
Police search warrant on King Edward's Drive on June 26
Officers acted on intelligence and executed a warrant at a property on King Edward's Drive in Harrogate. When they entered the property, a man was seen dropping a mobile phone into a toilet.
A 29-year-old man and a 40-year-old man were both arrested for supplying cocaine and a modern slavery offence. A 35-year-old man was arrested for possession of a suspected class A drug and modern slavery. They were all interviewed and bailed with conditions which prevent them from entering North Yorkshire.
(NYP Ref - 12230118198)
Assault on Bower Road on June 26
A man in his 30s was assaulted and received an injury to his face. A 41-year-old was arrested and later released. Enquiries are continuing.
(NYP Ref – 12230118424)
Police appeal for help spotting cuckooing
Cuckooing is the term given when drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person and use it at a base to sell and store drugs. Cuckooing victims are often drug users themselves, or people who are vulnerable due to a mental or physical disability, their age or lifestyle.
Police said signs of cuckooing include:
- Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night
- Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
- Different accents at a property
- Antisocial behaviour at a property
- Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
- Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes
- Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods
- Unexplained or untreated injuries
- Children are groomed and exploited to deal drugs on behalf of organised criminals. These are the signs to look out for:
- Persistently going missing from school or home and / or being found out-of-area
- Unexplained money, clothes, or mobile phones
Anyone with concerns about county lines can speak to their local police on 101 or call 999 in an emergency. If you’d rather stay anonymous you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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