From April 2023, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Steve Turner has match funded crime-busting operation Project ADDER.
The PCC has pledged £375,000-worth of funding over two years to support the successful project.
ADDER – which aims to cut drug-related crime and deaths in Middlesbrough. – was previously solely funded by the Home Office.
The PCC has invested £125,000-worth of funding in 2023-24 with a further £250,000 the following year.
PCC funding will enable the police enforcement element of ADDER to continue.
During 2022-23, the police enforcement element of ADDER:
- Made a total of 504 arrests
- Seized 500 weapons including knives and firearms
- Carried out 66 disruptions against organised crime groups
- Made 1,527 seizures of illegal drugs.
Middlesbrough was one of only four pilot areas to share in £28.3m-worth of Government funding when the scheme was set up.
Support worth £1.325m over three years enabled Cleveland Police and partner agencies to test a new approach to disrupting drug supply in Middlesbrough.
Project ADDER carries out major, long-term disruption to high harm criminals and networks involved in the supply of drugs and firearms.
Coordinated law enforcement runs alongside expanded diversionary activities as well as offering treatment and recovery services to those, who misuse substances.
During the first three years of the project, police officers focussed enforcement action on known crime hotspots.
Action ran along dedicated themes such as the illegal supply of prescription-only drugs.