Officers across Cumbria carried out warrants and targeted wanted individuals as part of the latest week of action (10 – 14 July), resulting in arrests on suspicion of offences including robbery, burglary, possession of an offensive weapon, blackmail and drug driving.

Those arrested by officers included a number who were wanted for prison recall, breaching the conditions of a tag or curfew and failure to attend court.

On Monday, officers were in South Cumbria where they executed a warrant in Barrow and made a total of four arrests. Two men were arrested for breaching their court order whilst a third was arrested for failing to attend court. The fourth was a priority wanted man who had been sought on suspicion of robbery. He was arrested and subsequently released on police bail whilst officers continue with their enquiries.

On Tuesday, officers carried out searches at two further addresses in Barrow, resulting in three arrests on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug. All were released under investigation to allow officers to conduct further enquiries.

Two more arrests were made at another address for individuals wanted on suspicion of blackmail. Both were subsequently bailed pending further enquiries. Two other men were arrested that same day – one for prison recall and another sought on suspicion of breaching a harassment order.

On Wednesday officers were focused on the Kendal and Eden areas, resulting in another seven arrests, including a man on suspicion of importation of a Class B drug following the execution of a warrant at an address in Kendal. He was subsequently released on bail whilst officers continue with their enquiries.

Three other individuals were arrested for failure to attend court whilst two more were arrested on suspicion of breaching the conditions of their tag.

On Thursday, officers in Carlisle made arrests for individuals who had fallen foul of the courts – one for failure to attend and another for recall to prison. A third man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and subsequently released under investigation.

On Friday, three arrests were made for drugs supply, a fail to attend warrant and burglary offences in the Workington area. The man arrested for burglary had been one of the force’s top wanted offenders. He was subsequently released on police bail for the alleged burglary offences.

Superintendent Sarah Jones said: “Operation Merlin has become a regular part of our proactive policing operations and sees officers undertake co-ordinated activity to bring in those people who are wanted by the police or the courts, as well as those suspected of involvement in criminality.

“Last week’s activity resulted in 24 arrests being made. Many of those who found themselves arrested were only too aware of their status as wanted or sought individuals.

“Our advice to anyone else who knows they are sought by the police or the courts is to come forward before Operation Merlin comes for you.”

Further Operation Merlin weeks of action are planned throughout 2023 and beyond.

Supt Jones said: “Our officers work around the clock on gathering the intelligence which results in the actions taken during Operation Merlin.

“However, we also need the community to come forward to make us aware of what is happening in their community so that we can take action.

“If there is drug dealing or other criminality occurring where you live then we want to know about it.”

If you have information regarding criminality in your area, you can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit

You can also phone on 101.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Always call 999 in an emergency or when a crime is in progress.