More Than 100 Suspected Weapons Seized During 24-Hour Coastal Crackdown

Over 100 suspected illegal weapons and quantities of Class A drugs have been taken off the streets following a major 24-hour police crackdown across the Yorkshire Coast.

More than a hundred suspected illegal weapons and quantities of Class A drugs have been removed from the streets of the Yorkshire Coast during a major 24-hour policing operation.

Ten people are now in custody following the targeted crackdown, which aimed to disrupt knife crime, travelling criminals, and organised crime groups. The initiative, part of Operation Tornado, ran from Wednesday the 14th of October into Thursday the 15th of October 2026 across Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey.

A significant haul of 101 suspected illegal weapons was discovered in Scarborough. Officers executed a warrant at a business premises on Foreshore Road, followed by a search of a connected property in the town. North Yorkshire Police confirmed that enquiries are currently ongoing to determine any offences related to the recovered items.

Suspected Class A drugs weighing approximately eight grams and around £2,500 in cash were also seized during the operation. This discovery occurred at a property on Honeysuckle Street in Malton, where weighing scales, deal bags, and a mobile phone were also recovered by search teams.

Key transport routes, including the A64, A169, and A170, saw increased patrols. Roads policing officers actively targeted weapon carriers and drug offenders moving through the region's transport network. Meanwhile, rural areas across Whitby and Ryedale received additional crime prevention patrols to reassure residents and deter rural criminality.

Alongside enforcement, officers focused heavily on community engagement and education, delivering six engagement events, four education sessions, and four prevention initiatives across the coastal command. Young people at Gladstone Primary School in Scarborough received education about the dangers and devastating consequences of carrying knives. Simultaneous events took place at Scarborough Hospital, where staff spoke with the public about community safety, while officers worked alongside businesses in Scarborough town centre to tackle retail crime.

The 24-hour intensive operation resulted in four executed warrants, two stop searches, the seizure of one vehicle, and the location of two wanted individuals.

Deputy Chief Constable Scott Bisset joined officers on the ground throughout the operation. He said:

"Over the past 24 hours, officers and staff from across North Yorkshire Police have come together with one clear aim: to make our communities safer.

Knife crime ruins lives. While thankfully incidents remain relatively low in North Yorkshire, we know that carrying a knife can have devastating consequences, which is why we are relentless in pursuing those who choose to carry weapons and commit crime.

We also know that knives are often transported through our road and rail networks, sometimes moving between communities and into the hands of those intent on causing harm. That is why operations like Tornado are so important. By targeting key transport routes, working with partners and taking proactive action against offenders, we can disrupt criminality, remove weapons from our streets and help keep our communities safe.

However, enforcement alone is not enough. Education is a vital part of tackling knife crime. By working with schools, young people and communities, we can help people understand the devastating consequences that carrying a knife can have, challenge misconceptions and prevent individuals from becoming involved in violence in the first place.

What I saw throughout this operation was a real commitment to both enforcement and prevention. By combining robust policing with education and engagement, we can continue to protect our communities and keep North Yorkshire a safe place to live, work and visit."

Anyone with information regarding knife crime, drug dealing, or other criminal activity in their community is encouraged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers.

Operation Tornado results:

•  Arrests: 10
•  Suspected illegal Weapons seized: 101
•  Warrants executed: four
•  Stop searches conducted: two
•  Wanted persons located: two
• Cash and suspected Class A drugs also seized during execution of warrants
• One Vehicle Seized
• Seven Enforcement events
• Six engagement events across the command
• Four education Events
• Four prevention Events