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Crime crackdown in west end

Northumbria Police

9 November 2009


A crime crackdown in Newcastle's west end has seen 27 people arrested and stolen goods and drugs recovered.
Codenamed Operation Domino, the swoops have taken place over the past few weeks across the area with Neighbourhood officers acting on information they've received from local people.
It includes arrests for drugs offences, burglary and disorder, while drugs, cash and suspected stolen property have been recovered.
On October 2, 2009, a warrant was executed at Brunel Lodge, Elswick, and 4 grams of crack cocaine were recovered. A 17-year-old female and 23-year-old man were arrested and are on bail pending further enquiries.
On October 13, 2009, a raid at a house in Canning Street, Benwell, resulted in around £600 worth of cannabis 'skunk', which was divided into 40 small bags ready for dealing, being seized. Four men aged 19, 20, 21 and 22 were arrested and are currently on bail.
At around 5.20pm on October 13, 2009 police stopped a Volkswagon Corrado at Whitehouse Road and discovered what is believed to be cocaine worth around £2,000 and associated paraphernalia inside the car. A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and is currently on bail.
A search warrant executed at Gerald Street, Benwell on October 15, 2009 resulted in cannabis bush being seized along with what is believed to be a quantity of 49 Valium tablets and suspected stolen electrical items.
A man aged 28 and a 22-year-old woman were arrested and cautioned for drugs offences and were bailed for further enquiries in relation to the suspected stolen items.
A small amount of cannabis resin was recovered from a house in Joan Street, Benwell, after a raid on October 21, 2009, and two men aged 39 and 17 were arrested.
On Sunday November 1, 2009, two warrants were executed at Beech Street. At one, a 34-year-old man was arrested for breaching bail conditions.
At the second address, two men aged 46 and 44 were arrested for possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply after several small bags of amphetamine were recovered from the house as well as a small amount of cannabis. A suspected stolen pedal cycle was also recovered.
Acting Neighbourhood Inspector Kev Benson said: "We've executed several warrants targeting drug supply and use in the city and have made many arrests.
"We believe these drugs were heading for the streets of the city and after pro-active police work and help from the public we've put a stop to this.
"There's no place for activity such as this in Newcastle and we'll continue to do all we can to do all we can to eradicate it."
Pro-active work around burglary has also seen a 16-year-old boy charged with being found on enclosed premises. And 13 people have been arrested for public order offences across the area as part of the crackdown.
Crime crackdown Domino is being carried out in response to community concerns around particular issues in areas of the west end, with the aim of targeting those causing the most disruption in neighbourhoods.
Acting Insp Benson added: "The work carried out so far shows we are listening to what the community is saying about crime and disorder and doing all we can to address any concerns raised.
"Operation Domino has been targeting the people and activity we know are of most concern to people in the west end of the city.
"We've been acting on information we've received from the public together with pro-active police work around known offenders in the area, we've been making real headway in targeting crime, making arrests and recovering goods.
"This activity will continue over the coming weeks to ensure the area remains a safe place to live."
Chief Inspector Ged Noble, who oversees Neighbourhood Policing in Newcastle, continued: "As part of the Policing Pledge we're committed to addressing the issues and concerns the community raise as their priorities.
"Domino is an example of the many operations we run each day in Newcastle to continuously disrupt and dismantle criminal activity in our neighbourhoods, to address community concerns and priorities, and ensure Newcastle remains one of the safest cities to live in the country."
The work carried out coincides with Not In My Neighbourhood Week, which runs throughout this week and highlights the work taking place in communities by police, local agencies and other partners.
Anyone with information about crime and disorder in their neighbourhood should contact police on 03456 043 043 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.