20 Arrests Made With Cumbria Police Targeting Wanted People
Twenty people were arrested across Cumbria during a week long police operation aimed at tracking down wanted individuals.
Cumbria Police said Operation Merlin ran from Monday, May 11th to Friday, May 15th. With arrests made for offences including recall to prison, failing to attend court, drug supply, breaching bail conditions and breaching court orders.
Operation Merlin is Cumbria Police’s long running operation focused on finding people wanted by officers or the courts. This can include carrying out warrants at addresses, arresting people who have failed to attend court. And locating people who are wanted back in prison.
Arrests Made Across the County
The operation began on Monday, May 11, when officers arrested a 24-year-old man from Scotland on suspicion of failing to attend court. He was later handed over to the courts.
A number of arrests followed on Tuesday, May 12. These included a 29-year-old man from Barrow, who was arrested on suspicion of several driving offences. Including drug driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop. He was later released under investigation while further enquiries continue.
On the same day, three men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of failing to attend court. They included a 45-year-old man of no fixed address, a 59-year-old man from Barrow, a 36-year-old woman of no fixed address. And a 42-year-old man from Carlisle. Police said they were handed over to the courts.
Two more men, one from Barrow and one from Carlisle, both aged 42, were arrested for breaching bail conditions and were also handed to the courts.
Carlisle Woman Sentenced
One of the named arrests was Roxanne Irving, 38, of Bower Street in Carlisle. She was arrested and later charged with breaching the terms of her Criminal Behaviour Order and shop theft offences.
She appeared before Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on May 13, where she admitted four counts of theft from a shop and two counts of breaching her Criminal Behaviour Order. She was given a four-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £110 in compensation, and made subject to an electronically monitored curfew.
Further Arrests Later in the Week
On Thursday, May 14, two men aged 30, one from Whitehaven and one of no fixed address, were arrested for failing to attend court and handed over to the courts.
A 38-year-old woman from Carlisle was arrested for recall to prison, while a 33-year-old man from Egremont was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply. He was later released under investigation.
Police also said two teenagers were arrested in connection with suspected racially aggravated criminal damage. They were released on bail while investigations continue.
On Friday, May 15, two men, a 43-year-old from Whitehaven and a 22-year-old from Carlisle, were arrested for recall to prison. Two further men, aged 27 and 18, were arrested for failing to attend court and handed over to the courts.
A 25-year-old man from Barrow was arrested for breaching a court order. Police also arrested Lana McVay, 40, of Rydal Street in Carlisle, on suspicion of theft. She was later charged, pleaded guilty at court, and is due to be sentenced at a later date.
Police Appeal for Information
Superintendent Matt Pearman said Cumbria Police remains committed to targeting people wanted for recall to prison, failing to attend court, or breaching bail and Criminal Behaviour Order conditions.
He urged anyone who knows they are wanted by police to hand themselves in before officers attend their home. He also said Operation Merlin often relies on community intelligence and encouraged people to come forward with information.
Anyone with information can report it online through Cumbria Police, call 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, or if a crime is in progress, people should call 999.
