Arrests after police carry out NINE early morning drugs raids in Hartlepool

A worrying rise in the number of drug-related deaths in Hartlepool prompted a series of large-scale drugs raids across the town.
By Mark Payne
Published 17th Mar 2020, 11:59 BST
Updated 17th Mar 2020, 13:17 BST
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Thirteen people have been arrested after police carried out raids at nine locations and addresses early on Tuesday, March 17, as part of Operation Sentinel aimed at disrupting and preventing organised crime across the region.

Cleveland Police say the raids in Hartlepool were based on information from concerned members of the public.

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It also comes after drug deaths have increased in Hartlepool. There have been four so far this year, 19 last year, and another 40 between 2016 and 2018.

Police officers in Cornwall Street, Hartlepool, during drug raids as part of Operation Sentinel. Picture by Frank ReidPolice officers in Cornwall Street, Hartlepool, during drug raids as part of Operation Sentinel. Picture by Frank Reid
Police officers in Cornwall Street, Hartlepool, during drug raids as part of Operation Sentinel. Picture by Frank Reid

Detective Inspector Dave Glass said: “We’ve focused an operation on the Hartlepool area for two reasons. The first is the issues around the increasing drugs-related deaths particularly related to heroin.

“Given the concerns alongside community-based intelligence, members of the public telling us about specific problems, we’ve decided to focus on the Hartlepool area.

“We’ve executed a number of magistrates warrants this morning and we have now a number of persons in custody. It’s a long-running covert investigation in which we hopefully will be bringing offenders to justice swiftly.”

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The Mail joined the force in raids at addresses in Penrhyn Street, in the Burn Valley area, and Cornwall Street, off Oxford Road.

Detective Inspector Dave Glass at the scene of durgs raid in Hartlepool. Picture by Frank ReidDetective Inspector Dave Glass at the scene of durgs raid in Hartlepool. Picture by Frank Reid
Detective Inspector Dave Glass at the scene of durgs raid in Hartlepool. Picture by Frank Reid

Other warrants were carried out in Marlborough Street, Wensleydale Street, Kimberley Street, Charterhouse Street, Duke Street and Helmsley Street.

Eight men and five women aged between 35 and 55 were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and are in custody.

They include a man and a woman arrested in an alleyway off Cornwall Street at 8.30am on Tuesday.

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Operation Sentinel, which jointly involves Durham and Northumbria forces, is also aimed at helping vulnerable and exploited people linked to the drugs trade.

Det Insp Glass said it has been successful in identifying a large number of such people, including drug users, and steering them towards treatment and support by working with local councils and agencies.

“It’s about us and partner agencies working together and trying to improve their quality of life,” he said.

“That in turn improves the drug supply problem in Hartlepool.”