Five arrested as Operation Artemis targets child exploitation across Cleveland

Cleveland Police have arrested five people following a series of coordinated warrants and enforcement actions under Operation Artemis, specifically targeting child sexual and criminal exploitation.

The activity, which took place on Wednesday 18 March 2026, coincided with National Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Awareness Day.

Officers carried out arrests across Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, and Grangetown, focusing on individuals suspected of involvement in organised crime and the exploitation of minors.

Arrests and Seizures

Five individuals—a 56-year-old woman and four men aged 20, 21, 37, and 45—were arrested on suspicion of various offences. These included sexual activity with a child under 16, sexual assault, the making and taking of indecent images, robbery, and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. All five suspects have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

In addition to the arrests, officers in Hartlepool successfully secured a closure order for a property on Exmoor Grove, which will remain shut for three months. Police also seized a large quantity of cash and counterfeit tobacco from a property on Windermere Road, working alongside Trading Standards to facilitate further action.

Education and Prevention

The operation included a significant focus on safeguarding and education. Officers visited schools, including Kingsley Primary School in Hartlepool, to teach children and parents how to identify the signs of grooming and exploitation.

Training sessions were also held at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough to provide professionals with updated guidance on tackling child criminal exploitation (CCE) and "County Lines" drug networks, where organised crime groups often coerce children into criminal acts.

Police Statement

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Colin Helyer emphasized the importance of a dual approach involving both enforcement and awareness.

"It’s imperative that we raise awareness amongst young people of the dangers of child criminal and sexual exploitation and county lines so that they know what to look out for, and we also extend that education to parents to help them spot the signs," T/DCI Helyer said. "Officers have carried out both education and enforcement activity in a bid to tackle these issues head on."

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This statement is based on an official press release issued by a Police Force. Document: Operation Artemis with Focus on Child Exploitation Leads to Five Arrests.

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