More than 100 arrests in county lines crackdown

Det Ch Insp Shaun Page says York "is no longer a soft place to deal"

Police in York have arrested more than 100 people as part of a crackdown on county lines drug gangs.

North Yorkshire Police launched Project Titan in January to "address the growing concern of an influx in county line dealers in the city".

The term county lines is used to describe networks of gangs and organised crime groups from larger cities who use children, young people and vulnerable adults to carry out illegal activity on their behalf in other smaller cities and towns.

Det Ch Insp Shaun Page, from North Yorkshire Police, said county lines drug dealing was currently "one of the biggest threats" facing York.

The detective said the majority of the drugs coming into the city were being supplied from West Yorkshire.

He added: "In September last year we really noticed a spike in violence in the city which can be attributed to county lines and the fall-out of that.

"It was almost a necessity that we put Project Titan together."

North Yorkshire Police said the operation had seen officers make 113 arrests, with 29 people charged - nine of whom had been remanded in custody.

Officers have also identified several children and young people who have travelled into the city via public transport and taxis to deal drugs, a spokesperson added.

"York is no longer a soft place to deal and bring drugs into the city," added Det Ch Insp Page.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.