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Oct 2021

Last Updated: 20/10/2021

Crime

Police arrest five in Harrogate as part of national county lines action

by Connor Creaghan

| 21 Oct, 2021

Police are trying to raise awareness about county lines.

North Yorkshire Police arrested five people in Harrogate as part of a national week of action to tackle county lines drug dealing.

The week started on Monday last week when officers stopped an 18-year-old man who was riding an illegal motor scooter.

Officers stopped him after smelling cannabis and seized 15 packages of the Class B drug.

They then arrested the man on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply before releasing him while under investigation.

Later that day officers arrested two women in their 30s in the Starbeck area on suspicion of possessing heroin with intent to supply. Again the suspects were released under investigation.

On Friday police arrested a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man on Jennyfield Drive after they earlier ran away from officers.

When the officers caught up with the pair, the officers seized ketamine, cannabis, £300 in cash and equipment police believe was being used for drug supply.

They arrested the two suspects on suspicion of possessing ketamine with intent to supply and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. They were released while under investigation.

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The activity was part of a national “week of intensification” led by the National Crime Agency that saw police forces across the country work to bring down drug dealers and safeguard vulnerable people.

Detective chief inspector Lorraine Crossman-Smith who coordinated the week of activity in North Yorkshire, said:

“This week’s action gives a glimpse of the work that goes on the target county lines drug dealing all year round.

“Thanks to these national weeks of action, we are able to draw on additional resources such as our British Transport Police colleagues, the Regional Organised Crime Unit and local partner agencies to tackle what is a major priority for us.

“In addition to enforcement activity, a major focus for North Yorkshire Police is protecting vulnerable people who are drawn into the world of drug dealing. Whether young people who are forced to sell drugs on behalf gangs. Or those who are forced to let drug dealers use their homes as a base for selling drugs in a form of exploitation known as “cuckooing”.

“It requires support from a number of agencies including local authorities, community safety partnerships, housing providers, charities, health workers and drug rehabilitation services. My thanks go to all the agencies who supported the week and for their ongoing efforts throughout the year.”

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Police arrest five in Harrogate as part of national county lines action

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