Six Arrests on Yorkshire Coast as Police Intensify County Lines Action

There were Arrests in Whitby, Scarborough and Filey as part of a week of intensive action.

North Yorkshire Police have arrested 27 people and made 60 welfare visits to vulnerable people across the county during a national week of action to tackle “county lines” drug dealing.

County lines is the name given to a form of organised crime in which drug dealers from larger cities exploit vulnerable people - including children - and force them to deal drugs in smaller towns and cities. It takes its name from the mobile phone lines used by dealers to communicate between towns and advertise their drugs for sale.

The week of action took place between 3 and 9 October 2022 and was coordinated by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC).

During the high intensity week of action officers arrested 27 people on suspicion of drugs offences ranging from the possession of controlled substances through to being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. Two bladed weapons were recovered as well as over £5,000 in cash and £10,000 in what is suspected drugs.

The arrests took place in Harrogate, Ripon, York, Selby, Whitby, Scarborough and Filey.

On Monday, officers conducted the execution of a warrant at a property in Whitby. Several quantities of what is suspected to be magic mushrooms, cocaine, and cannabis (edibles, herbal & resin) were found. Officers also found tablets which are suspected to be class-A and class-C drugs. A quantity of cash and a knife were also found in the property. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of procession with intent to supply. He was interviewed and released under investigation pending further investigation.

On Friday officers conducted the execution of a warrant at a property in Scarborough. A large bag of what is believed to be cocaine was thrown from a window when officers forced entry. This has a street value of approximately £2000. During the search officers recovered deal bags, cash, two mobile phones and further wrap of white powder. This wrap has been field tested and confirmed to be cocaine. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class-A drug. He was charged with concerned in offer to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine. He was recalled to prison due to previous offending.

In total 11 warrants were executed on the Yorkshire Coast at addresses linked with drugs and county lines.

Officers also worked with the British Transport Police to target drug supply on the train network. A dedicated operation was set up with the Humberside police road crime team to intercept vehicles which are involved in drug supply between Humberside and North Yorkshire.

Several teams from North Yorkshire Police were deployed to work on the week of action. The force’s intelligence team were responsible for working within the community to identify suspects and vehicles involved in the supply of drugs. The operation expedite team is the force’s dedicated county lines team, they were out on the streets proactively stopping people and vehicles that are linked to the supply of drugs. The Operational Support Unit also assisted with proactive patrols and the execution of warrants across the county.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Simpson who supported the coordinated the week of activity in North Yorkshire Police commented:

“Although this is a fantastic set of results from the last seven days, it’s important to stress that this is very much business as usual for North Yorkshire Police.

“Out teams are out and about conducting warrants and intercepting the supply of drugs week in week out.

“Drug use has serious implications on people’s health and impacts on the quality of life for communities.

“We will not tolerate the use of drugs in our county. I would urge anyone with information about drug dealing in their community to call us on 101, we treat every piece of information as important.”