Festive season is always a busy time for the police force

members of a drugs gang operating in Sunderland were jailed for a combined total of more than 68 years following a huge police operation which spanned more than two years.

We are fortunate that this region is a safe place to live and work, and it is incredibly reassuring that we don’t see many incidents involving serious violence and drugs across the force.

However, Operation Burton showed that when we do detect them, Northumbria Police are prepared to throw every resource possible behind the investigation to ensure criminals involved in serious and organised crime are brought to justice.

Tony Trott, 30, and three associates were prepared to use firearms and extreme violence to run a lucrative criminal enterprise involving the supply of cocaine across Sunderland.

As a result of our complex investigation that included a huge amount of surveillance and intelligence-gathering, Trott was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to supply cocaine. He will not get out of prison until 2034 at the very earliest.

That is something that should offer us all reassurance. Not only do the long sentences reflect the severity of the crimes, but it sends out a strong message to other criminals in our city.

On Monday, we also saw two men convicted of raping a woman at a property on Roker Avenue earlier this year. Their disgraceful crimes had a devastating effect on the victim and a deeply harmful effect on our community, receiving national coverage.

Saheed Rasoolli, 30, of Hylton Road and Araz Abdulla, 23, of Roker Avenue, will be handed custodial sentences when they are sentenced next week at Newcastle Crown Court.

Next week, Mohamed Rahman, 30, of Intrepid Close, Hartlepool, will also be sentenced after his conviction for raping a woman in Houghton earlier this year.

Those convictions are a result of a huge amount of work by an experienced and dedicated team of detectives, who leave no stone unturned to ensure perpetrators have their day in court.

Sexual offences, especially rape, are incredibly emotive crimes and it is important that the public know we are committed to bringing perpetrators to justice.

Heading into 2019, against the backdrop of significant funding cuts to the force, I want to assure you that we will continue to do everything in our power to keep the streets of Sunderland and South Tyneside safe.

We are all incredibly proud to protect the communities we serve, and will continue to endeavour to provide the very best policing service that you expect and deserve.

Merry Christmas, and see you in the new year.