A NORTH YORKSHIRE police team has seized around £1.5m of property and drugs in the past month after a crackdown on travelling criminals.

The road crime team has been acting on intelligence reports and hits on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to intercept vehicles linked to criminal activity.

The raids are all part of Operation Hawk, North Yorkshire Police’s ongoing campaign to get tough on rural and cross-border crime.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy, who is leading Operation Hawk, said: “The Road Crime Team is making a big impact in disrupting suspected criminals who are using the road networks in North Yorkshire and the surrounding region.

“From the feedback I have heard, the criminals themselves are beginning to realise that North Yorkshire Police means business and our county is a no-go area for illegal activity.”

During September, the road crime team stopped and searched 46 vehicles and 68 people resulting in 22 arrests.

Earlier last month police made five of those arrests and took hold of six vehicles after uncovering a suspected car-cutting workshop in a large industrial unit near Selby.

Police surrounded the building after breaking through a locked gate and found the workshop contained ten vehicles and numerous parts.

Six suspected stolen cars including two Volkswagen Golfs, an Audi A4, a Citroen Berlingo, a Peugeot 308, and a Ford Transit van were seized by the police as part of the investigation.

A quad bike was also taken away and one man was arrested on the scene before three others were caught after trying to run away.

A substantial amount of cigarettes have been taken in by police from a lorry linked to criminals in Poland, and £1,000 of heroin was also seized after it was found in the boot of another car.

Two men from Harrogate were later charged to Harrogate Magistrates’ Court for possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.

ACC Kennedy added: “Criminals need to know that vehicles will be routinely stopped and searched in North Yorkshire.

“Our officers will even come knocking on front doors in neighbouring counties if necessary.

“There is nowhere to hide and there will be no let up.”

Residents can follow the Road Crime Team on Twitter @NYPRoadCrime and using the hashtag #OpHawk.

For the latest information about Operation Hawk visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/hawk.