North Yorkshire Police carried out a targeted day of action in Whitby on July 15 as part of Operation Tornado, executing a drugs warrant on St Mary’s Crescent and running a multi-agency Operation Seabird event at Whitby harbour. The operation combined neighbourhood teams and specialist resources to address drugs supply, retail crime and anti-social behaviour.
Arrests and immediate police action
Officers, supported by the Neighbourhood Support Unit and with the Chief Constable taking part, arrested a 48-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man on suspicion of possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply. Police also seized a substantial amount of cash and arrested the pair on suspicion of possession of criminal property.
| Location | Individuals arrested | Allegations |
|---|---|---|
| St Mary’s Crescent, Whitby | 48-year-old woman; 48-year-old man | Possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply; possession of criminal property |
| Scarborough (Longwestgate) | One 34-year-old woman; four youths (16, 15, 15, 15) | Suspected possession with intent to supply cannabis; further alleged offences for the adult |
Following questioning in custody, the Whitby suspects were released under investigation while inquiries continue. In Scarborough, the 34-year-old woman remains in custody for questioning; the teenage boys were released under investigation with safeguarding measures put in place.
Retail crime, covert work and community engagement
Operation Tornado also targeted retail crime in Whitby town centre through high-visibility patrols intended to reassure businesses and shoppers. Officers worked alongside North Yorkshire Council CCTV operators and used plain-clothes deployments to identify known and suspected offenders.
- Drugs warrants executed in Whitby and Scarborough.
- Multi-agency presence at Whitby harbour under Operation Seabird.
- Retail-focused patrols and covert activity to tackle shop theft and offending.
“The operation boosts neighbourhood policing with additional and specialist resources to target a range of priority issues,” a North Yorkshire Police statement said.
Two further arrests in Scarborough town centre were reported during the evening activity: one man in relation to conspiracy to supply drugs and another arrested under a warrant for failing to appear at court. The policing day combined overt and covert tactics and multi-agency co-operation aimed at reducing drug supply and related offending across the coastal command area.
Police said enquiries remain ongoing in relation to the Whitby arrests. No charges or court dates were reported at the time of the statement.
