North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU)

💙 Putting our people's wellbeing first! Making sure our people are happy, healthy and engaged is fundamental to us. That’s why we keep a focus on #Wellbeing here at #NEROCU - and we're about to host our biggest wellbeing event yet! It will be packed full of opportunities for our workforce to learn more about the support services available and try some of them out. The event boasts such things as health and cholesterol checks, massages, advice on financial wellbeing, flu jabs, wellbeing dogs, counselling, neurodiversity support and the Professor of Sleep, Jason Ellis, will also be joining us. We’re also hosting a bake sale during the event to raise money for Shout UK, a suicide prevention charity who do amazing work. This event is just one way we prioritise wellbeing within our workforce and ensure everyone has a clear understanding and access to it. 💬 Tell us about how your organisation looks after you? 👇

🚔 Almost 10 kilos of drugs seized as part of targeted police operation. A strike day, which has been the result of a complex police operation, saw addresses in Middlesbrough and Stockton, searched by #NEROCU officers with the support of National Crime Agency (NCA). Previously the investigation had already turned up 6.5 kilos of Cannabis but yesterday, officers carried out further action and seized a further 3 kilos and approximately £3,000 in suspected criminal cash. A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Importation of Class B Drugs, he has since been released on bail while enquiries continue. We know profits from drugs like Cannabis are often then invested in wider organised crime such as Class A drug supply, firearms, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation. This operation has been the hard work of officers and staff and has demonstrated our commitment to tackling and disrupting Serious and Organised Crime in the region, something which will continue under the banner of #OperationSentinel. 🖱️ Read the full story on our website. Link on our page.

🚨 A paedophile who made plans to abuse a 9-year-old child has been jailed. Between January and March 2020, 61-year-old Stephen Biles had been communicating online and over the phone with an adult, and discussed meeting in order to arrange for Biles to abuse the other adult’s niece at hotel. What Biles didn’t realise at the time, however, was that the person he was speaking to was actually a police officer from #NEROCU and the child didn’t actually exist. On 1 April 2020, Biles was arrested at his home address in Riverside, Ringwood. Examination of electronic devices seized from his address uncovered that he had 52 Category C indecent images of children in his possession. Following further investigation by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAT), Biles was charged with making indecent images of children, and two counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. This has been a great example of police partnership at it’s best. Coming together using a holistic approach to put a dangerous predator behind bars. 👀 Read the full story on our website. Link on our page.

💬 Let us tell you about our commitment to our people and our growing organisation this #NationalInclusionWeek When we recruit, we're looking for people with a variety of skill-sets to build on our already outstanding teams. We’re looking for good communicators, listeners, investigators, #neurodivergent thinkers, problem solvers and innovative leaders. To achieve this we need people from varying backgrounds, different ages, genders, sexual orientations and people with varied skill-sets who think and operate in their own way. Not only do we strive to be #inclusive and reflective of the amazing people we have working for us and the public we serve, but we want to make sure that those working for us have the support they need to remove barriers, challenge behaviour and be the person they want to be at work. A good employer lifts their staff up rather than holding them back which is why we host various development workshops and inputs such as our leadership event, promotion board support sessions and development programmes – ensuring we’re designing content to support and include everyone. Our staff and officers attend accessibility training, standards and ethics training, have extra support if needed for promotion boards and interviews and diversity and inclusion training. We also have regular inputs around inclusion which cover topics such as unconscious bias, disability awareness, sessions on different faiths, parent and carer support and more. We value, celebrate and embrace #diversity, equality and inclusion here at #NEROCU. There's a sincere focus on making sure everyone has fair opportunities and feels included. With extra support for those that need it and an environment where employees are encouraged to challenge inappropriate behaviour, we strive to be a workforce for everyone. 💙 This is our commitment to our people, who without, our organisation wouldn’t be the inclusive workforce it prides itself on. Our work won’t stop here though and we will always work with our staff and officers through the likes of our regular staff surveys to achieve more, do better and include all. 👇 Tell us about your commitment to inclusion?

⚠ A warning from our Economic Crime Team after reports linked to a Parking Fine scam. The scammers send a text message to victims asking to pay a fine or face prosecution for an outstanding parking ticket. They ask them to click a link in the message which takes the receiver to a very convincing copy of the official government website, complete with accurate logos, branding and font. The victim is asked to provide personal and payment data to pay the fine. The bogus texts warn of increased charges, prosecution and court fees for those who fail to pay with 28 days. A reminder that local authorities would not contact drivers via text messages regarding a parking penalty charge notice (PCN). If you receive an unexpected text message, don't be tempted to click on any links or follow instructions to log into any accounts. Links can contain malware that could infect your device and lead to scammers doing further damage. 📲 If you have concerns, contact the company the message claims to be via a number form their official website or speak with Action Fraud who can provide advice.

⚠ Warning in the North East as elderly victims scammed of over £47,000. We’re seeing a rise in the #NorthEast in scams where elderly victims are told to post cash to UK addresses by fraudsters claiming to be bank staff or police officers. Since January 2024, there have been 24 reports of victims asked to withdraw cash and post it to addresses in the UK. Victims are approached over the phone by fraudsters impersonating banks and police fraud squad officers claiming to be investigating their branch or unusual transactions on their accounts. They are asked to go to their bank, withdraw thousands in cash and post it to addresses. In some instances, the victims are told elaborate details of how to package the cash. 💷 North East victims have lost a total of £47,210 - with an average loss of £3,631. This could have been higher as some withdrew the money from the bank but did not send the cash following intervention from a family member or bank/post office staff. The average age of the victims is 79 years and in some instances the victims are called many times and badgered by the fraudsters until they send the cash. 💬 We are urging the public to speak with elderly friends and relatives and warn them of this fraud type. Remind them no bank official or police officer will ask for personal financial details or for them to withdraw or transfer money. 📲 They should contact police and Action Fraud if they receive any concerning phone calls.

🚀🔐 Join Us for Cyber Security Awareness Month! 🔐🚀 This coming October, we're thrilled to team up with Durham Constabulary and Cleveland Police (UK) for an enlightening series of webinars designed to boost your cyber security knowledge and keep you safe online. 📅💻   🔹 What’s on the Agenda? Personal Cyber Hygiene: Tips and tricks to protect your smartphones, tablets, and computers. -07/10 1pm-2pm -23/10 1pm-2pm -30/10 10.30am-11.30am NCSC Small Business Guide: Essential advice for safeguarding your business against cyber criminals. -02/10 10.30am-11.30am -16/10 1pm-2pm -31/10 10am-11am 🌐 Why Attend? In our increasingly digital world, securing your personal and business devices is more critical than ever. With cyber threats evolving rapidly, staying informed is your first line of defence. Our webinars will equip you with practical strategies and insights to defend against potential attacks and secure your digital life.   🎟️ Don’t Miss Out! Register now by emailing Nerccuprotect@durham.police.uk and be proactive about your cyber security. Let’s make this October the month you take charge of your online safety!   #CyberSecurityAwareness #StaySafeOnline #WebinarSeries #NCSC #ProtectYourData #SecureYourDevices #CyberSecurityMonth

🚔 A Sunderland man has been jailed after engaging in sexual communications with someone he believed was a child. Kevin Rowland, 44, is now behind bars after being sentenced by a Judge following a complex police operation by our #NEROCU officers & Northumbria Police. Rowland believed he was talking to a 14-year-old girl online and persisted to send her sexually explicit messages and images of himself. What Rowland didn’t know was he was actually speaking to a NEROCU police officer. Read the full story on our website, we'll drop a link in the comments below 👇

⏰ Not the usual morning alarm for work A drug dealer who was found with cocaine in his bed has been jailed after being woken by officers. Mark Freer, 23, set up a designated and sophisticated drug deal line to send out bulk messages to drug users. The co-ordinated line was being used to sell Class A drugs such as Cocaine and Heroin – with over 6,000 messages sent within a three-month period. Our #NEROCU officers worked with Cleveland Police (UK) to execute a strike which resulted in the arrest of Freer from his bed, where he was found lying with some Cocaine and a stash of cash. 👀 We'll drop a link to the full story in the comment below 👇

🚨 Exciting News! 🚨 Our Cyber Protect officers are thrilled to be exhibiting at this year’s Aspire Cyber Summit! 🛡️✨ Join us to explore all the free services we offer to businesses, from Cyber security staff training to our Cyber escape rooms along with our award nominated tabletop cyber exercises. Event Details: 📍 Hilton, Newcastle Gateshead 📅 Wednesday, 25 September ⏰ 09:00 – 17:00 #AspireCyberSummit #Cybersecurity #Innovation #TechSummit #NetworkSecurity #Teamwork