Operation Artemis third anniversary activity in Redcar and Cleveland
“Eyes in the sky” technology enhances first Redcar and Cleveland Artemis of 2026
Yesterday’s Operation Artemis saw a huge variety of activity by police and partners across Redcar & Cleveland policing district.
The day of action fell on the third anniversary of Cleveland Police launching Artemis – a day when our officers and staff work with partner agencies to showcase how we tackle issues of public concern in a focused, highly visible and impactive way – all aimed at reassuring our communities and helping them feel safe, whilst reminding criminals there is nowhere to hide.
After an early morning briefing, dozens of response, neighbourhood, proactive team, CID, Matrix and safeguarding officers headed out in convoy to execute drugs warrants, and arrest outstanding suspects and people wanted for recall to prison.
Officers made several arrests – of people wanted on warrant, or on suspicion of offences including child neglect, drugs offences, common assault and criminal damage.
Class A drugs, knives and a baton -as well as illegal bikes - were also seized and enquiries will continue.
Neighbourhood officers also held public engagement events and pop up crime prevention and advice sessions, while other local officers visited Nunthorpe Academy, and Nunthorpe, St Gabriel’s and Whale Hill Primaries where they spoke to youngsters about serious crime and criminal exploitation of children.
They then carried out high visibility reassurance patrols around various schools in the district.
The force also deployed technology like the district’s very own new ‘Drone as First Responder’ (DFR), the third one for the force under the NPCC’s national programme.
Complementing our existing fleet of the devices, DFR has immediately proven its worth and the drones are used on an almost daily basis.
The dedicated DFR will be strategically sited within the R&C policing district and will travel to ongoing incidents in a matter of minutes, providing a live view of what’s happening, helping to follow and locate suspects while capturing evidential footage, and assisting in searches for missing people.
With tackling serious violence a key part of the operation, knife surrender bins were placed around Greater Eston where neighbourhood officers enjoyed the chance to chat to residents and tell them about their work.
And after compelling evidence from police and antisocial behaviour officers was presented at court, two houses – in Nunthorpe and Ormesby – are now subject to closure orders after repeated reports of crime and ASB at each; we hope local people will be reassured that we won’t tolerate this behaviour and we’ll work with them, the local authority and housing providers to deal with perpetrators.
Redcar & Cleveland’s District Commander Superintendent Emily Harrison said:
“Yesterday we shone a spotlight on our daily business of tackling crime and protecting our communities.
“As we do every day, we were out in our communities targeting those who cause the most harm and listening to residents so they could tell us their policing priorities.
“I’d like to thank everyone whose vital preparation behind the scenes helped ensure the day’s success: intelligence officers, crime analysts and detectives worked tirelessly to make sure we had good quality, up to date information to locate and arrest suspects so they could be questioned.
“Every single officer and staff member from every R&C district team, their counterparts from our other districts, our custody and detention officers, partner agencies and residents themselves should be proud of what we achieved; it’s heartening to know we all share the same aim of keeping our communities as safe as we can.
“We’ll continue to work together to tackle the issues which can blight everyone’s quality of life. Finally, I’d urge the public to please keep telling us who is committing crime and ASB, and who’s using illegal bikes - and where they’re being stored - so we can take action.
Cllr Neil Bendelow, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Redcar & Cleveland Council, added: “Working closely with the police but also other agencies and partners on the frontline means we can combine our forces to have a real, serious impact on improving people’s lives.
“I’d like to congratulate the police on their hugely impressive work yesterday. I’d also like to thank our own officers who have given vital support, especially on countering anti-social behaviour, as well as everyone else who has supported the police to help make Operation Artemis such a success.”