It’s Rural Crime Week! This week we will be bringing you stories and news on initiatives our officers carry out to help our rural communities all year round.
We’re kicking off the week sharing results from our latest Operation Checkpoint which targets suspected criminal activity to swiftly disrupt the organised network and protect communities by acting on local intelligence and emerging crime trends.
The proactive initiative saw officers and Ruralwatch volunteers come together across the Durham, Cleveland, Northumbria, Cumbria, Lancashire and North and West Yorkshire Police force areas as well as with other partners such as the Environment Agency in one of the biggest operations yet.
The biggest rural policing operation of its kind in the country, the latest Operation Checkpoint ran overnight last Wednesday and saw almost 70 vehicles stopped, drugs seized, suspects arrested and targeted initiatives carried out across the region.
One suspected drug dealer was also arrested after driving at more than 100mph through Wolsingham and Frosterley before crashing into a dry-stone wall.
Inspector Ed Turner said: “Operation Checkpoint is a vital tool which we use to proactively take down criminals who try to target our rural communities and it’s great to see it going from strength-to-strength with forces from across the region coming together.
“I would particularly like to thank our Ruralwatch volunteers who give up their time to take part in these covert operations and continually work with us to help us, help them.
“We will continue to do everything we can to support our rural residents and tackle these criminals.”
To find out more about Ruralwatch and how to become a member, visit: https://www.durham.police.uk/Advice-Centre/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/Animals-wildlife-and-rural-crime.aspx
