A EUROPEAN arrest warrant has been carried out as part of an operation targetting "foreign national offenders" throughout the region.

The warrant was carried out in Newcastle yesterday afternoon for a man wanted for fraud offences in Romania.

The man was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for the offences in his absence, as a result of his arrest he will now return to Romania to serve the sentence.

The activity comes after the launch of Operation Kestrel on Monday.

The multi-agency operation will see the regions three police forces - Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland - work together with Immigration Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies, voluntary organisations and local authorities over the next two weeks to target foreign national offenders.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "During the activity there will also be a focus on UK citizens and foreign nationals who may be vulnerable victim's to these criminals.

"The priority will be to safeguard and protect those who may be a victim of modern day slavery and human trafficking.

"Over the next two weeks Operation Kestrel will also help the National Crime Agency with further European Arrest Warrants to locate those in the UK who are wanted abroad and ensure they are returned to the country they are wanted in to face justice."

Twelve people were arrested on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences on Monday when the operation began with a series of early morning raids on eight addresses in the west of Newcastle and one in Consett.