Operation Sentinel, a North East police initiative targeting serious and organised crime, has resulted in criminals being sentenced to a total of 1,388 years in prison over the past year. The operation, launched in 2019, also saw £13,281,192 in cash seized and 1,057kg of drugs confiscated.
Key Results of Operation Sentinel
In the last 12 months, the operation has led to the seizure of 218 weapons and the safeguarding of 320 children. The initiative is run by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) in collaboration with Northumbria Police, Durham Constabulary, and Cleveland Police.
Preventing and Disrupting Crime
Operation Sentinel aims not only to target suspects but also to protect the vulnerable, prevent crime, and dismantle illicit operations harming communities. This includes community engagement in schools, care homes, bank training, and cyber workshops for businesses.
NEROCU Superintendent Andy Reynolds said: "We have a duty to protect the North East from the devastating impact serious and organised crime can have on communities. Organised criminals often try to evade police by crossing borders to carry out their illegal operations – Operation Sentinel puts an end to that."
Unified Regional Response
Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson of Northumbria Police stated: "Serious and organised crime can have a devastating impact on our communities and collectively through Operation Sentinel we are relentlessly pursuing those responsible. We are sending a defiant message to those behind this type of activity that there is absolutely no place whatsoever for you here in the North East."
Detective Chief Inspector Lindsay Brown of Durham Constabulary added: "Serious organised crime has a devastating impact on communities, and we will not tolerate those who attempt to bring fear, harm and misery to the North East. Operation Sentinel demonstrates our determination to take decisive action – working across force boundaries, sharing intelligence and combining our collective capabilities to dismantle criminal networks and hold offenders to account."
Continued Efforts
The operation emphasises prevention and protection, aiming to stop people from becoming involved in organised crime. Reynolds said: "Recent figures are just a taste of what we’re capable of and our efforts won't stop here." Simpson noted: "By working together to maximise our robust response we ensure there are no hiding places. As well as bringing offenders to justice, through Sentinel we also want to help prevent people becoming involved in this type of activity, including through education and highlighting how serious and organised crime can destroy lives."
