14 arrests as Operation Tornado sweeps across Scarborough, Whitby and Malton

Led by Chief Constable Tim Forber and his Chief Officer Team, the intensification day saw local policing teams boosted by specialist resources from across the force on Wednesday, January 7.

This supported a range of proactive, intelligence-led police work to disrupt, deter and detect criminal and anti-social behaviour – from County Lines drug dealing, cross-border rural crime, shoplifting, and street drinking.

In total, 14 arrests were made for range of suspected offences.

A spokesperson said: “A big emphasis was placed on improving road safety with a focus on commercial vehicles such as house removal, scrap collectors, builders and landscape gardeners.

"Operation Tornado provided a great opportunity to engage with residents, retailers, and the rural business community including farmers – letting them know that North Yorkshire Police is working hard to keep them safe and secure.”

The police force’s Road Safety Team (RST) and Roads Policing Group (RPG) teamed up with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to carry out a road safety operation throughout the day.

A check point was set up at a service station just off the A64 on the outskirts of Malton.

The RPG officers were especially on the look-out for commercial vehicles suspected of having mechanical defects, illegal or insecure loads, as well as other motoring offences.

Seven drivers were issued with Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) for offences including insecure loads, defective vehicles, and bald tyres. RPG also made two arrests for drug driving.

Neighbourhood Policing and Response teams carried out targeted patrols looking for known and suspected offenders involved in retail crime.

In Scarborough town centre in particular, officers ensured that street drinkers and any related anti-social behaviour was quickly dealt with using powers under the Public Spaces Protection Order.

At Whitby, the Neighbourhood Policing Team took part in engagement events at Ruswarp Livestock Market, Whitby Co-op and Staithes Co-op to promote crime prevention advice for farmers and covering local issues of concern such at anti-social behaviour.

Officers from the Rural Task Force, the Roads Policing Group, and the Operation Orbit off-road biking team were also deployed throughout the day and into the early hours of the follwing day covering the rural outskirts of Whitby, Malton, Pickering and Eastfield.

Round-up of the results: 14 arrests in total; three warrants executed; three arrests for drug-related offences; three other wanted people arrested for burglary, breach of a restraining order, and communications offences; 17 vehicles stopped; six suspects arrested for retail crime offences.

Chief Constable Tim Forber said: “Throughout 2026, North Yorkshire Police is going to continue to be on your side, making sure that we do everything that we can to keep you safe and feeling safe in the county of North Yorkshire.”