Arrests as police raid homes linked to knife crime
BBCFour people have been arrested for drug offences and weapons were seized in early morning police raids.
A samurai sword, machete and a club with nails were found in a home on Duke Street in Hartlepool earlier, after Cleveland Police suspected drug dealing was taking place there.
Two men, aged 24 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs, while a 28-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs following the raids aimed at tackling knife crime.
Police said all those arrested as part of the raid remained in police custody.
The force conducted the raid after it received reports of young people walking around the streets with knives and weapons, it said.
It comes as Cleveland Police reported it had the third highest rate of knife crime in the country.
Det Ch Insp Stuart Hodgson said: "Knives cause misery and fear in our communities and this is about locating and locking up those who threaten and hurt people.''
Cleveland Police said over the last year there had been 880 violent incidents where a knife had been used, or someone had been threatened with a blade.
As well as the raids, plain clothes officers patrolled "crime hotspots" looking to catch people carrying knives and talks took place in local schools as part of the national week of action.
Detectives said they were now seeing more young people carrying knives and recently seized one from an 11-year-old.
Operation Sceptre, the nationwide initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK, focuses on education and engagement activity, with enhanced enforcement over the week.
Cleveland Police's Acting Insp Sarah Beadle, who is leading on the week of action, said: "It is particularly concerning to see young people involved and hurt in these crimes, but we will do all we can to engage, educate and encourage them not to carry a knife.
"It isn't normal behaviour, very few young people do carry a knife, but with numbers rising on Teesside we want to ensure that there is help and guidance for anyone who needs it."