Six arrests in South Shields and cannabis farm found after reports of violent disorder

Officers executed warrants at a string of addresses in the town, including Marigold Walk, George Scott Street and Richmond Road, while a cannabis farm was located at an address in Honeysuckle Avenue.

The raids follows a number of reports of violent disorder in recent weeks and saw police arrest six men on suspicion of affray, as well as seize mobile phones and tablets. They have since been released under investigation.

Detective Inspector Sean Mcguigan said: “This was a hugely successful operation that involved a large number of officers who executed coordinated warrants at various addresses known to be associated with serious and organised crime.

“The activity saw us detain six suspects, as well as seize drugs, mobile phones and other technological devices that will prove invaluable in our ongoing investigation.

“These raids are only the start and my message to the community is simple - we will continue to use every tactic at our disposal to continue to detect and disrupt individuals associated with serious and organised criminality.

“This weekend of action reinforces our commitment to taking a front-foot approach when identifying and pursuing suspects. This was a team effort and a lot of hard work was carried out behind-the-scenes as we carried out intelligence into the individuals.

“I would like to thank the communities of South Tyneside for their ongoing support, and we would encourage anybody who has information about criminality in their area to come forward.

“You can do so anonymously and in confidence – if something doesn’t seem right then trust your instincts and contact police as soon as possible. By working together, we will continue to ensure South Tyneside remains a safe place to live and work.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, said: “There's a lot of preparation and hard work that goes into making these raids a success and as this crackdown has shown - it pays off.”

Anyone concerned about criminality in their area is encouraged to contact police on 101, by using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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