Five problem vehicles are seized from the roads

Five problem vehicles were taken off the roads and a drug raid involving 20-plus officers were part of a weekend of operations by a police team.

Durham Constabulary’s officers in Peterlee also issued a number of Covid warnings and penalty notices to people breaching the rules.

Three off-road vehicles were seized in Shotton Colliery following calls from residents, while a rider was issued with a traffic warning notice.

A Washington man was issued with a notice after he was seen riding on a grassed area in Passfield Square in Thornley.

A suspected stolen car recovered in the same village, while another vehicle was towed away in Blackhall Colliery through Operation Valdis, which aims to prevent arson attacks, after it was found with no insurance or registered keeper.

More than 20 officers from the Neighbourhood Team and intelligence unit carried out a magistrates’ warrant in Peterlee following reports of suspected drug dealing from the address.

The force has said inquiries are still ongoing, but no location of the search or what it found have yet been shared by the force.

A spokesperson for the team added: “We attended several antisocial behaviour hotspots in Peterlee and the west villages and dealt with number of incidents over the week.

“We spent several hours conducting targeted patrols, including the use of unmarked vehicles, as well as speaking to concerned residents.

“Antisocial behaviour and off-road bikes remain a priority so please do keep reporting incidents to us.”