A region-wide rural crime crackdown saw more than 150 vehicles stopped and a string of arrests made.

Operation Checkpoint involved officers, volunteers, and partners across Northern England, focusing on preventing and addressing rural theft, wildlife, and poaching.

During a dedicated week of action, a total of 159 vehicles across the force areas for Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Police Scotland were stopped for checks.

A driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol was arrested and charged with driving a motor vehicle while above the alcohol limit the very same day.

Inspector Garry Neill, of Northumbria Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “We know that Operation Checkpoint gets results and that’s because of everyone’s passion, dedication and determination to protect our rural communities.

“We’ve made great strides in recent months through planned operations like this, and with the support of partners and more neighbouring forces than ever before, we really are sending a clear message to criminals.

“More than £1.25 million-worth of stolen farming and agricultural equipment has been successfully recovered since our rural policing team was formed in 2020, and we’ve also seen a 20 per cent reduction in the number of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) reported as stolen this year."