POLICE forces across the North-East have combined to combat serious and organised crime.

Officers from Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland joined forces to launch Operation Sentinel on Monday – a scheme aimed to make a stand against a range of serious offences, including drug dealing, burglary, cyber crime and fraud.

The three forces will be working in unison alongside the North East Regional Specialist Operations Unit (NERSOU).

As part of the scheme, officers are aiming to seize goods, carry out warrants and target offenders known in organised crime circles, and a Ford Ranger has already been seized under the operation as officers acted fast to show they meant business.

Temporary assistant chief constable David Felton, who has regional responsibility for NERSOU on behalf of Northumbria Police, said: “We have a duty to protect people from the devastating consequences serious and organised crime can have on their lives.

“I want to reassure the public that a lot of excellent work is already under way to tackle this type of activity and bring offenders to justice, which has resulted in successful prosecutions and ultimately seen dangerous criminals taken off our streets.

“The launch of Operation Sentinel is a way for all three forces to further come together in a new show of defiance against serious and organised crime.

“We also want to send a very clear and powerful message to those who think they can get away with targeting the communities we serve that we will do everything in our power to stop you in your tracks and bring you to justice.”

On the back of the launch of the operation, the three police forces aim to co-ordinate activity across the region.