Cumbria Police’s Rural Crime Team have taken part in a region-wide operation to tackle rural crime.

Operation Checkpoint involved officers from Cumbria join forces with Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland, North Yorkshire and Police Scotland, with vehicles proactively stopped as part of the dedicated week of action – with officers carrying out routine checks on anything that caused suspicion.

In Cumbria, the Rural Crime Team were supported by Special Constables, Rural Crime Volunteers, Intelligence department, Neighbourhood Policing Officers, Response Officers and Road Policing Unit.

In our county, officers stopped nearly 50 vehicles during the evening – ten of which were subject to searches. This activity follows a crime trend in the area whereby vans have been used to transport stolen agricultural machinery.

Officers also searched four people and submitted eight intelligence reports, which further strengthens our ability to disrupt criminality.

Officers also arrested five people during the course of the evening for drug and driving offences.

The operation took place on 15 November.

Rural Crime Team Sergeant Amanda McKirdy said “We continue to see the value in working alongside our colleagues over the borders to target travelling criminals.

“Working together and communicating is key to making our county a hostile place for criminality.

“The collaboration through Operation Hawkeye allows us to continue to take firm action against those who commit crime here, resulting in support with arrests and property recovery.

“I’d also like to credit our dedicated volunteers and rural communities who remain committed to reporting suspicious activity and enabling our relentless pursuit of those not welcome here.”

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, said: “Operation Checkpoint is a superb illustration of joint working between neighbouring constabularies but also within branches of Cumbria Police together with other agencies and of course volunteers from our own communities.

“It genuinely is a showcase of what can be achieved where we all play a part in fighting crime.  As always intelligence and information are key and that is where every member of the public can help by being the eyes and ears and passing information so that the police can target action.

“I would particularly note the immediate effect that our new dedicated rural crime team have had across the county focusing on our rural areas.  Their work together with partners is helping focus and target resource for maximum effect.  Checkpoint highlights the work they are now doing every day across Cumbria.

“The Constabulary take rural crime extremely seriously and I am pleased to note the active engagement of senior officers in securing arrests during Operation Checkpoint.  I am grateful for the active support of our rural communities and would reg everyone living in our rural areas to keep eyes and ears open and please report anything suspicious, every report helps the police to keep our county safe.”

The Rural Crime Police Team have a dedicated Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/cumbriapoliceruralcrimeteam where the team will highlight issues, incidents, and advice on how our communities can keep themselves safe.