More than 120 of the North East's "most wanted" fugitives have been arrested over a week-long period as a part of a new police operation.

121 people were arrested last week as part of Northumbria Police's Operation Bastian for a range of unsolved crimes including burglary, assault, public order, drugs, and weapons offences.

Officers from the Force’s intelligence department "pulled together a picture" on those "most wanted" across the region.

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Northumbria Police teams, alongside the Harm Reduction Department, identified where suspects were staying, and throughout last week, searches were carried out to track them down.

One arrest led to two others after a vehicle those arrested were travelling in was searched and offensive weapons were found.

Those arrested were deemed "high-risk" in the region and had been "purposely evading police."

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Last week, officers carried out a range of activity to track down suspects across the Northumbria Police force area.

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"As part of Operation Bastian, officers from the Force’s intelligence department spent significant time pulling together a picture on those ‘Most Wanted’ across the region.

"Working alongside key partners, the teams with Northumbria’s Harm Reduction Department swiftly identified where suspects were staying, and across last week, searches were carried out to track down the fugitives.

"Today, detectives have revealed that the activity saw a total of 121 people arrested for a range of unsolved crimes including burglary, assault, public order, drugs, and weapons offences.

"One particular arrest led officers to two other people after the vehicle they were travelling in was searched and offensive weapons were found.

"The fugitives we arrested were deemed high-risk in our area and we're delighted that so many have now been located.

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"They have been purposely evading police and it is thanks to the tenacity of officers working on Operation Bastian that they have been brought into custody."

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of an individual who is wanted by police can contact officers by calling 101. You can also report online at the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website.

If you want to report information anonymously you can do so by calling independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.