Super Tornado sweeps up criminals across North Yorkshire

You may have heard us talk previously about Operation Tornado; our monthly day of action which provides a focused area with additional resources. Yesterday (Wednesday 15 October 2025) saw enhanced police activity and partners across the entire county in what we called a ‘Super Tornado’. 

The Super Tornado operation was about intercepting the people who are involved in organised crime, especially retail crime, to send out the simple robust message that this illegal activity won’t be tolerated in North Yorkshire.

In just 12 hours, we achieved the following:

•            12 warrants executed 

•            36 arrests

•            40 community engagement events 

•            £4k in cash, dangerous weapons, stolen property and drugs seized from the streets

( Arrest made in York)

Three men, aged 28, 29 and 40, and a 38-year-old woman were detained during simultaneous drugs warrants executed across the Ripon area. They were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.

In York, a 42-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy were arrested after a drugs warrant was executed in the Chapelfields area. They were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A and B drugs. Suspected drugs, equipment linked to drug dealing, and a large amount of cash were recovered from the property.

In Selby, a 24-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs. A drugs warrant was executed at her home address – officers located a large amount of cash in the property.

A warrant was executed in Malton. As a result, a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug.

Two suspected shoplifters were arrested in Scarborough. A 48-year-old man was arrested in connection with thefts from a supermarket on Falsgrave Road earlier this month; a 29-year-old woman was arrested following the theft of alcohol from a shop in the Balmoral Centre.

Also in Scarborough, a 62-year-old man, and a 55-year-old woman and a 43-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs, after simultaneous police warrants executed in the town centre located Class A, B and C drugs.

In Eastfield, a disqualified driver chose the worst possible day to take drugs and drive. Officers on patrol stopped the 34-year-old man, and he was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and driving while disqualified.

This operation saw North Yorkshire Police working alongside key partners including, British Transport Police, Border Force, YHROCU (Yorkshire and Humber Regional and Organised Crime Unit), GAIN, City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council, the Crown Prosecution Service, HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions as well as both the York BID and Harrogate BID.

Following a detailed briefing, our Chief Officer Team was out in force assisting strike teams on warrants and engagement. 

(Officers taking part in Super Tornado in Scarborough)

In April this year, we held a Retail Crime Symposium, which brought together police, businesses, and partner agencies to review and reaffirm our commitment to improving retail crime investigations. Since then, we have implemented several key initiatives which have led to an increase in positive outcomes for all reported retail crimes in the past year. As part of this commitment, we ensured that retail crime was top of the agenda yesterday as officers hit the streets in town and city centres to proactively intercept shoplifters and advise retailers on how to keep their staff, stock and stores safe. 

Policing’s national intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime, Opal, supported operational activity in developing intelligence and working with retailers to identify the highest harm offenders. Opal coordinates national intelligence between policing and retailers, enabling resources to be targeted where they will have the biggest impact. 

( A proactive vehicle stop, near Selby)

The day’s other priority was serious and organised crime with a focus on targeting high street shops which are believed to be involved in money laundering. Shops that mainly deal in cash can be a front in order to turn criminal proceeds into legitimate funds, bank accounts and even moving money abroad.

(Seized money)

Behind the success of this Super Tornado is the intelligence which was developed for a number of weeks before yesterday’s operation. Our Project Servator colleagues were out in force utilising dedicated vehicle check points to intercept vehicles at key locations, and at transport hubs, high visibility and plain clothed patrols were carried out to intercept wanted people. 

Officers from the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team also attended and conducted 18 enforcement visits in Skipton, Harrogate, York and Scarborough. Their activity led to seven arrests for illegal working and four businesses being issued with Civil Penalty Referral Notices. Employers could now face hefty fines of up to £60,000 per worker if found liable.

At the heart of every operation is community policing and our neighbourhood teams used the day to help raise awareness in local communities about the risks associated with money laundering – to help spot the signs and know how to report it. 

( An engagement event in Ripon) 

Our School Liaison Team also attended schools in Catterick and Selby to deliver safeguarding talks, covering online safety, the dangers of knives and more.

A digital display vehicle was used to highlight our most wanted faces. The van travelled around Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon. It generated information which will help us with lines of enquiry to locate and arrest these individuals.

Deputy Chief Constable Scott Bisset from North Yorkshire Police said: “This operation has been one of the biggest that the force has ever seen and I’m pleased to say it was a huge success. 

“Not only has it disrupted and dismantled a significant amount of organised criminality, but it has reinforced the message to the public that we are on their side. 

“We remain committed to working closely with partners agencies to relentlessly pursue and disrupt those who attempt to use North Yorkshire as a base for their criminal intentions”.

Superintendent Lisa Maslen, from the National Business Crime Centre, said: “North Yorkshire Police’s Super Tornado is a great example of police, businesses, and partner agencies working together to keep retail crime on the agenda and deliver positive outcomes to those experiencing retail crime in their communities.

“Intercepting shoplifters and engaging with retailers on how to keep their staff, stock and stores safe is community policing at its best.”

Immigration Enforcement Inspector for the Nort East, Yorkshire and Humber, Tim Gallacher, said: “It was great to join our partners in North Yorkshire to support this day of action, with my officers targeting illegal working.

“We are working around the clock to crackdown on illegal working in all its forms and our enforcement activity in the region has increased by 56% in recent months. 

“Operations like this show there is no hiding place from the rules and those involved in any form of immigration crime will face the full force of the law.”

Matt Boxall, Head of Public Protection at City of York Council, said: “We work closely with partners and businesses across York to ensure compliance with regulations, and we are committed to identifying illegal items and removing them from sale. Where there are concerns, we are taking part in joint licensing visits, and we continue to conduct underage test purchasing for alcohol, vapes, cigarettes and fireworks. 

“If you have concerns about what you suspect to be illegal activity, or are a business looking for advice on regulations, we encourage you to get in touch by emailing public.protection@york.gov.uk.”

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing our environment, Cllr Richard Foster, whose responsibilities include trading standards, said: “Organised crime gangs are behind much of the offending seen on our high streets, including the supply of illegal tobacco and vapes.

“Every illegal cigarette or vape seized by our officers today will be destroyed. Some vapes can contain the same amount of nicotine as 50 packets of cigarettes and so this joint operation with North Yorkshire Police is an important step in our efforts to tackle this crime. 

“The ready availability of these illegal products has an impact on our communities, often being associated with anti-social behaviour and other offending, so I would ask anyone who knows of places selling them to contact trading standards on 0808 223 1133.

“If you use vapes or cigarettes, don’t buy illegal products – doing so could harm you, your friends and family and your community.”

Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, said: “We know that safety and security are absolutely vital to York’s business community. We were really pleased to work alongside North Yorkshire Police today as part of this major operation, providing support through our Street Rangers and wider team in the city centre. Collaborative days like this not only help to deter criminal activity but also reassure our businesses that we’re all working together to keep York a safe and welcoming place to work and visit.”

Stephanie Coombes is Head of Intel at Opal, policing’s intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime. She said: “We’re pleased to support North Yorkshire Police in this intensification operation which demonstrates the value of intelligence sharing between national and local policing and retailers, helping us to identify and target the highest harm offenders who are causing the most damage in communities. 

“By coordinating intelligence nationally, we can ‘join the dots’ between forces and retailers, often revealing that the same offenders are targeting multiple police force areas which enables us to build even stronger cases to bring them to justice. Partnership working is key to tackling retail crime and this operation significantly underlines the effectiveness of a collaborative approach.”

Support Services

If you are a young person who is worried about being involved in county lines, or knows someone who is, you can speak to an adult and let them know how you feel.

You can also contact fearless https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ fearless who allow you to pass on information about crime anonymously.

You can also contact Childline on 0800 1111 – they are a private and confidential service where you can talk to counsellors about anything that is worrying you.

Get help for drug addiction

North Yorkshire Rise – young people’s specialist drug and alcohol service- freephone 08000 14 14 80 (option 2).

North Yorkshire Horizons – adult specialist drug and alcohol service – freephone 08000 14 14 80 – https://www.nyhorizons.org.uk/

Crossroads provides support and interventions to prevent people from entering the criminal justice system and to reduce offending in North Yorkshire. waythrough.diversionary.services@nhs.net 

 City of York Drug and Alcohol Service – https://www.changegrowlive.org/york/info  - 01904 464680

For details on the range of sources of support in York, including York in Recovery, please see: https://www.livewellyork.co.uk/information-and-advice/health-and-wellbeing/help-for-drugs-and-alcohol-use/

DRUGFAM – Support for people affected by other people’s drug or alcohol misuse – 0300 888 3853 https://drugfam.co.uk/