Operation Lion sees ten of York's ‘most wanted’ arrested

TEN of York’s “most wanted” have been arrested as the police continue their city-wide crackdown on crime.

Operation Lion targets known criminals operating in and around York city centre, and has seen police make 36 arrests since it began on March 14, including ten over the weekend.

On Saturday, six people were arrested on suspicion of offences including theft, handling stolen goods, drug offences and violent disorder.

Assistant chief constable Tim Madgwick vowed the fight against crime would continue.

He said: “There will be no let-up. We will continue to target people who are offending on a regular basis and they will be left in no doubt that we are watching them and are determined to divert them away from a life of crime.”

Following the arrests, a 19-year-old man who was stopped on Constantine Avenue was charged with aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance and two counts of theft from a shop. He appeared before York Magistrates’ on Monday and was remanded on bail, but was arrested again later that day and charged with breaching his bail conditions.

A 15-year-old is due before York Youth Court next Tuesday after he allegedly swapped price tags at T K Maxx in the city centre, while a 17-year-old was arrested in Melrosegate in connection with a theft from Jorvik Service Station, on Lawrence Street.

Officers also arrested a 30-year-old man at Robinson Court, following a break-in at Falsgrave Crescent. He was charged with burglary and attempted burglary.

Officers also conducted a warrant at an address in Cromer Street and arrested a 25-year-old man, on suspicion of violent disorder after he allegedly forced his way into a house on Burlington Avenue the previous night and assaulted the occupant.

He has been released on police bail as inquiries continue.

Four more people were arrested on Sunday, including a 39-year-old man, charged with breaching bail conditions, handling stolen goods and possession of Class B drugs; a 20-year-old man on suspicion of assault; and a 41-year-old man on Gale Lane on suspicion of theft and affray.

A 24-year-old man was arrested later that day on suspicion of affray, assault and theft, after an incident at Hawkshead Close at about 4pm. He was later charged with all three offences.