NORTHUMBRIA Police officers held a day of action aimed at tackling rural crime in Northumberland.

The latest Operation Checkpoint took place on overnight on Thursday and saw officers joining forces with the Environment Agency and National Farmers’ Union North East members, as well as gamekeepers and landowners to stop and check vehicles.

Overnight, patrols were out in full force, including officers from Tynedale, to prevent and disrupt rural crime with a focus on taking positive action for any poaching-related activity on rural estates.

Two men were reported for poaching offences and ten vehicles in total were stopped and checked.

This resulted in the seizure of a van, two air rifles, lamping equipment and a battery, as well as four dead rabbits.

Police Superintendent Helena Barron said: “The night was another brilliant team effort and an example of the partnerships involved to tackle issues around rural crime.

“Our presence in the area sends out a clear message that rural-related crime will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with our partners in the future to clamp down on this kind of offending.

“People living and working in these communities are our eyes and ears and we rely on their information to help us build up a picture of what is going on.”