Drugs and weapons seized during series of Hartlepool raids

Operation Sycamore launched yesterday morning (Wednesday) when scores of officers stormed into two neighbouring homes in Hartlepool town centre.

The raids resulted in two other addresses on the street being searched for drug dealing activities after officers spotted connections to the terraced properties.

An air rifle, wooden batons and an improvised blade were recovered from the properties on Keswick Street in the town.

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Inspector Adrian Dack, of Cleveland Police, has warned the town’s criminal fraternity that the operation will be carried out on a regular basis with the intention of disrupting their illicit activities.

Officers raiding a suspected drugs den on Keswick Street, Hartlepool, during Cleveland Police's Operation Sycamore (Image: Graeme Hetherington)

He said: “Today's operation is around Operation Sycamore. It's a targeted joined up approach that we're taking to address some of the concerns of the community around anti-social behaviour, serious violence, and organised crime.

"We're working together with our partners and other departments across Cleveland Police to make sure that we have a co-ordinated, targeted approach to what we're doing.

Some of the weapons seized from properties on Keswick Street, Hartlepool, during Operation Sycamore (Image: Graeme Hetherington)

"The two addresses that we've done today have been executed under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs act.

"So far the searches have recovered controlled substances of various amounts, so there will be people arrested once we have completed those searches."

Local residents welcomed the police activity in their neighbourhood after experiencing months of problems.

One woman, who didn’t want to be named, said: “People are coming and going at all hours and they are just causing trouble for everyone else.

“Hopefully, this (the police raids) will put an end to it.”

A 42-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug and a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class c drug.

A third man attended Hartlepool Police Station voluntarily to be questioned by police.

As well as the suspected drugs dens, the officers were also on the look out for illegal off-rood motorcyclists who are causing endless problems for people living on the Headland.

The Back on Track van bringing education to the off-road biker problem in Hartlepool (Image: Graeme Hetherington)

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As part of the initiative, the Back on Track van was parked up on a housing estate to encourage local young people to learn about riding safely and legally.

Officers use a previously-seized off-road bike to encourage them to identify safety issues while speaking to them about the laws of the road.

Insp Dack added: “This is a major concern for people in the area – the illegal bikers are causing problems for residents when they are tearing around the streets.

“This is about educating young people as well as seizing their bikes.”