ORGANISED criminals involved in activities in North Yorkshire ranging from drug-dealing, human trafficking and modern slavery to child sexual exploitation and firearms offences are to be tackled by a new partnership of crime fighters.

Project Alliance will bring together police, councils, the fire service, community safety partnerships, health bodies and Revenue and Customs, so they will share more information, intelligence and expertise at regular meetings.

Detective Inspector Eamonn Clarke of North Yorkshire Police said organised crime groups operated in North Yorkshire like any other county and partnership working was one of the best weapons in the fight against them.

“Project Alliance allows us to do this more often, and jointly focuses on the most effective ways to make our communities safer,” he said.