THE commitment of volunteers during a rural crime operation has been praised by the police.

More than 120 volunteers supported police officers and staff across the North of England as part of an ongoing clampdown on rural crime.

Operation Checkpoint saw more than 100 vehicles stopped and checked across the region.

Running from the evening of Tuesday, August 6, into the early hours of Wednesday, August 7, the operation resulted in two arrests in the Northumbria area, for assault and dangerous driving, and is one of several Checkpoint deployments due to take place this year.

A total of 35 vehicles were stopped overnight across the operation area and saw officers and volunteers visiting farms and landowners, acting on local intelligence to disrupt rural crime.

Staff from five police forces worked alongside partners from the Environment Agency, Forestry England, the NFU and angling trust members in addition to a number of special constables.

Superintendent Helen Anderson, of Northumbria Police, said: “The support from our volunteers and partner agencies during these types of operations is superb.

“It demonstrates fantastic teamwork and highlights how partnership working can be incredibly beneficial and produce real results. Criminals targeting our rural areas will not be tolerated.”