How police are cracking down on drugs in Hartlepool during the lockdown

A tenant of a property on Corporation Road, Hartlepool, has been moved into alternative accommodation after complaints were received from the local community regarding drugs activity in the area.

Cleveland Police, Hartlepool Borough Council and Thirteen Group visited the property and spoke with the tenant, who was then moved into alternative accommodation voluntarily.

Chief Inspector Pete Graham, from the Hartlepool Community Safety Team, said they encourage anyone to come forward with information to allow them to help those in the community.

He said: “We would always encourage the communities of Hartlepool to come forward with information regarding drugs activity in their local area.

“We will always act upon this information wherever we can, so that we can provide a better quality of life for those living in our communities. This is yet another example of this work.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Chief Inspector Graham previously said following the coronavirus outbreak it was an ‘extremely challenging time’ from a police and community safety perspective.

However he added it was important they continue to provide a service to people in Hartlepool, and called on everyone to work together.

The multi-agency Hartlepool Community Safety team, made up of staff from the council, police, fire brigade and more, has previously highlighted drug issues as one area it is looking to crackdown on.

The team operates using a ‘problem solving’ approach targeting anti-social behaviour and community safety issues identified with the highest threat, harm, risk, vulnerability, and impact.

Examples of previous work by the team include Operation Otley, which focused on the Wynyard Mews complex of flats, and tackled numerous reports of drug dealing and serious criminality.

Community safety team officers said following reporting campaigns, day of action, CCTV and contacting landlords, they were able to gain multiple drug warrants and close down five ‘drug dens’.

They added such a large scale operation would not have been possible in the past.

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