TWELVE people were arrested as police in York and Selby launched another crackdown on their "most wanted".

A 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were among those spending their day in a police cell yesterday as Operation Cracker Two got under way.

It began with a dawn raid in Tudor Road, Acomb. Neighbours watched from their windows and children gathered to watch on their way to school as a 38-year-old man was arrested for possession of cannabis.

The man was still asleep when officers arrived, and had the drugs in bed with him.

Police carried out the warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Officers searched the house and seized weighing scales, pipes and a notebook believed to contain a "debt list", as well as the drugs.

The crackdown was launched as a result of December's successful Operation Christmas Cracker, which saw 16 people locked up for 32 offences.

Three teams of police officers scoured the city all day and all night looking for people on their wanted list.

In Acomb, a 51-year-old was locked up for actual bodily harm, a 35-year-old woman was arrested for bail matters and a 20-year-old man was arrested for a Section Five public order offence.

A 48-year-old man was arrested in New Earswick on suspicion of criminal damage.

In addition, a woman aged 30 was handcuffed and bundled into the back of a police van in Heworth for breach of bail.

Another team locked up a 16-year-old boy from Clifton for two outstanding warrants, as well as failing to answer police bail, and a 24-year-old man from Fulford for theft.

Officers also arrested a man, aged 28, in Bootham for a section 47 assault.

An 18-year-old man from Melrosegate and a 24-year-old man from York city centre were both locked up on warrants.

Later in the day officers went to an address in Hollywood Road, Selby, to arrest a 14-year-old girl who was wanted for an assault in September.

Just as they approached the house in their van an eagle-eyed police officer spotted the girl's mother driving off in her Audi, with her daughter in the passenger seat.

They followed the car and arrested the teenager when it got stuck in traffic.

All 12 were taken to the cells at Fulford Road Police Station in York.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Warnes said: "The people that we have arrested have been wanted for offences committed in the York and Selby area and until this time have remained at large.

"On top of our everyday duties, Cracker Two is a concerted effort to arrest outstanding people and bring them to justice."

And he warned criminals that they can expect more operations to put people behind bars in the near future. He said: "I can promise more of this style of policing in the coming few months."