Fourteen people have been arrested and a number of cars have been seized after police targeted offenders preying on vulnerable Newcastle revellers.
Northumbria Police have been identifying "vehicles of concern" in the city centre as part of an operation to prevent people from becoming victims of sexual violence. The initiative also saw officers identify unlicensed taxis.
The action, called Operation Redeemer, saw officers go out into the city on 17 occasions over eight weeks and carry out 80 interventions, many of which were to check on those who appeared to be vulnerable such as lone women.
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Fourteen arrests were made, covering offences such as suspicion of drink-driving, possession of a bladed article, possession of Class A and Class B drugs, as well as three arrests for suspicion of possession of an air weapon in a public place, while an application has also been made for an interim sexual risk order against one offender.
A total of 15 vehicles were seized by officers, with one found to have been used for criminal activity, and the others found to have been used by drivers with no insurance. One summons was issued to a man for operating an unlicensed taxi.
Warnings were issued to a total of seven drivers who were found to have used vehicles to cause distress, alarm, and annoyance.
The increased action aimed to build on the work done by the force as part of Operation Cloak, which sees dedicated uniformed and plain-clothed officers looking for signs someone may be vulnerable or in need of help and identifying people who may be out to commit offences.
Licensees, door supervisors, hotel staff and taxi drivers also work together to help ensure people can enjoy a night out in a safe and friendly environment.
Following a review of the interventions carried out as part of Operation Redeemer, police re-visited 13 vulnerable people. A total of 34 potentially vulnerable people were found to have been safeguarded during the operation’s deployment.
Operation Redeemer activity continues to take place in Newcastle.
Chief Inspector David Wheeler, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a fantastic set of results which show how seriously we take the safety of every member of the public at all times. Our region is well-known for having a safe and vibrant nightlife and we are proud of the role we play within this.
“Following the success of Operation Cloak, we have been able to build on this work and identify offenders who are targeting the vulnerable. I want to be clear that we will continue to closely monitor the night time economy and bring those responsible for taking part in this type of predatory offending to justice as swiftly as possible.
“This is very much a joint effort and we are committed to working with our partners to build on the extensive work already underway to ensure people can continue to enjoy a night out in a safe and friendly environment.”
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