Officers across the region have partnered up to take further action against criminal activity in one of their biggest rural crime operations yet.
The force has reinforced its commitment to rural crime as Operation Checkpoint continues to pursue suspects and keep communities safe.
Operation Checkpoint, which is the biggest rural policing operation of its kind in the country, ran overnight on March 30 into the early hours of yesterday morning (March 31), and saw almost 70 vehicles stopped, drugs seized, suspects arrested and targeted initiatives carried out – all part of the continued fight against criminal activity in rural communities.
Operation Checkpoint is an ongoing proactive initiative that targets suspected criminal activity in order to swiftly disrupt the organised network and protect communities by acting on local intelligence and emerging crime trends.
This time around Cumbria officers also worked alongside officers from Durham Constabulary, Cleveland Police, Northumbria Constabulary, Lancashire Constabulary and North and West Yorkshire Police – making this one of the biggest multi-agency operations ever.
Northumbria led the operation and Neighbourhood Inspector Garry Neill has praised the combined efforts of all those involved and promises action like this will continue.
Insp Neill said: “I want to thank all the forces and partners for coming together to create a fantastic and robust approach to this coordinated action.
“By continuing to work together, share best practice and intelligence, we’re able to strengthen our policing response to rural crime and clamp down on those looking to take part in this type of criminality.
“We will continue our multi-agency efforts to protect the communities we serve and effectively reduce rural crime.”
Eden Sergeant Amanda McKirdy who coordinated Cumbria’s involvement said: “We will continue to target those who chose to prey on the residents of Cumbria.
“We listen to our rural communities and are committed to working with bordering forces to efficiently disrupt these individuals. I’d like to thank our residents who contact us to report suspicious activity and urge others to do the same.”
To find out more about rural policing and how you can volunteer, contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team, by dialling 101 or visiting the Cumbria Police website here.
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