Officers from across Cumbria Police last week joined other forces in the North of England for Operation Checkpoint a region-wide rural crime crackdown.

The largest rural crime operation of its kind in the UK, Operation Checkpoint sees a number of police forces working collaboratively to prevent and tackle rural acquisitive crime, wildlife and poaching offences.

Across Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland and Cumbria, more than 100 vehicles were proactively stopped as part of the dedicated week of action – with police carrying out routine checks on anything that roused suspicion.

During the night of action, officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Operational Support and the Road Crime Unit in Cumbria stopped 51 vehicles.

Cumbria Police were also supported on the evening by colleagues from the Special Constabulary and Farmwatch volunteers who provide crucial intelligence.

Officers also arrested two individuals, seized a vehicle, searched seven vehicles and six people and were issued several penalties across the evening.

Sergeant Amanda McKirdy said “We know criminals operate between our forces, so working together to target them, and making the borders less rigid helps support communities throughout the area.

“Neighbourhood policing teams also supported a week of action with PCSO’s from Eden carrying out revisits to those who have previously suffered as victims of rural crime, to assess and offer crime prevention advice.

“Officers from Allerdale also attended Mitchells Auction to engage with their rural communities and offer advice to local farmers.”

Cumbria Police are committed to targeting travelling rural criminals and are keen to encourage people to report suspicious activity.
Chief Inspector Lee Skelton, Cumbria Constabulary’s Rural Crime Lead, said: “We work closely with our bordering forces with this initiative which sees us work together to tackle rural crime.

“Across the evening we stopped 51 vehicles and made arrests in relation to driving offences.

“Rural crime offenders will cross county boundaries to commit their crimes in their attempt to evade detection, by sharing information and taking action, together we are actively disrupting criminal activity which in turn makes our rural communities a safer place.”

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, said: “Cumbria is a rural county which means we are more susceptible to rural crimes.

“Working alongside other Constabularies and local partners, Cumbria Police do catch criminals and stop potential crimes in progress.

“The Police do everything in their power to stop criminals. However, residents know their local areas exceptionally well and can often spot suspicious vehicles and people best. I would urge anyone who sees anything out of the ordinary in their local community to report it to the Police on 101.

“Together we can make Cumbria an even safer place to live.”

You can report information online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit or you can call 101. In an emergency or if you witness a crime in action, please call 999.

To report information completely anonymously, contact the charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read Northumbria Polices release here – More than 100 vehicles stopped & arrests made as part of Operation Checkpoint rural crime crackdown : Northumbria Police