A POLICE inspector has thanked his team after revealing they recovered more than £3million worth of drugs among other achievements in 2020.

Figures released by Hartlepool’s Neighbourhood Policing Team show that since April 2020 the team has made 216 arrests, carried out 220 stop searches and raided 30 addresses.

Officers also seized a large number of knives and weapons and played a key role in Operation Phoenix, Cleveland Police's summer-long operation to tackle serious violence and prevent crime.

Highlights during the operation were raids at two addresses in Kendal Road which led to the seizure of drugs and weapons and in Oxford Road weapons were also confiscated.

In Rugby Street a cannabis farm worth around £60,000 was dismantled.

Inspector Mark Haworth said: “I’m proud of all the team has achieved this year and recognise the contribution of the excellent partnerships we have with other organisations, also focussed on improving our community.

“The quantity of drugs and weapons we have seized, and the arrests made, show we are disrupting criminality but perhaps less visible is the community trust and support we have built up.

"This is just as crucial to reduce crime and make our streets safer.

“We’d like to thank all those members of the public who have worked with us and shared their concerns and their information and ask them to continue to do so. We can always be contacted on 101."

He added: “Hartlepool is a fantastic place to work and live and in 2021 we look forward to continuing to work with local people to keep them and their families safe.”