[P]OLICE from across the region took part in a major operation focusing on rural criminals overnight.
Operation Checkpoint is a multi-force operation targeting travelling criminals operating between counties in the North of England and Scotland.
The Operation involved Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire Northumbria and North Yorkshire. Each force will be responsible for providing their respective resources and equipment.
Checkpoint was run overnight from Wednesday 13 September into Thursday 14 September, with the different forces sharing intelligence and co-operating throughout.
The Operation has been run more than a dozen times now, with Cumbria Constabulary being the lead force this time around.
In Cumbria, a total of 60 vehicles were stopped, with two vehicles seized – both under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act (no insurance).
There were no arrests made in our county.
The efforts of neighbouring forces took the total number of vehicles stopped to 137. Neighbouring forces also made three arrests – on suspicion of drug driving, drink driving and burglary.
Inspector Jo Fawcett of Cumbria Police said: “By working together, Cumbria Constabulary and neighbouring forces improve our ability to stop offending by travelling criminals before the offences take place.
“We have an excellent relationship with neighbouring forces which is only enhanced through operations such as Checkpoint.
“Not only does the operation send out a clear message to criminals that the area is no soft touch, it also reassures the public of the resources being made to prevent such rural criminality.
“However, I would stress the point that it remains as important as ever that we continue to receive information about criminality and suspected criminality from the public. It is only with the help of the public that we can identify issues and make sure they are effectively and efficiently dealt with.”
Commenting on the results of the Operation, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “This is a great example of what can be achieved by working with our neighbouring forces.
“I wholly endorse the need to work across borders when tackling the issue of travelling criminals who need to know that they will not escape justice in our county. Operations such as this also offer great opportunities to share knowledge, experience and intelligence, for the benefit of all of the forces involved.”
