Five Arrests As Cumbria Police Step Up Rural Crime Operation
Police have made five arrests as Cumbria officers step up efforts to tackle rural crime across the county this week.
The arrests have been highlighted as part of Rural Crime Week of Action, with Cumbria Police outlining work already carried out against offences affecting rural communities. Officers are using the week to draw attention to investigations, patrol activity and partnership work, while also encouraging people living and working in rural areas to continue sharing information about suspicious activity.
During the past month, officers have worked on a series of rural crime investigations in the Dent and Sedbergh areas. That operation resulted in one man being arrested and charged, forming part of wider activity by police to address offences affecting communities across rural parts of Cumbria. The force has used the investigation to highlight the importance of local policing and intelligence.
Patrols in Eden have also contributed to arrests connected with travelling acquisitive crime. Four people were arrested following police activity in the area, demonstrating the focus being placed on offences that can affect rural communities and involve individuals travelling between locations. The arrests form another part of the recent enforcement activity being highlighted during the national week of action.
Police have also been involved in joint work with neighbouring forces that resulted in the recovery of machinery worth around £1 million. The operation involved cooperation beyond county boundaries, reflecting the importance of forces working together when investigating rural crime and recovering property believed to have been stolen. The scale of the recovery has been highlighted as part of the latest policing activity.
A major joint investigation involving Cumbria Police and Cheshire Police has also resulted in 20 people being charged over the theft of machinery. The investigation covered offences committed in Cumbria as well as activity involving neighbouring areas, with the partnership between forces forming a significant part of the work to identify those involved and recover stolen property.
The latest enforcement activity comes as officers take part in Rural Crime Week of Action, which is being used to highlight the work carried out throughout the year. Police have stressed that tackling rural crime involves more than individual investigations, with visibility, relationships and communication with communities forming an important part of the wider approach.
As part of the week, officers will attend the Westmorland Show on September 9 and 10. They will be joined by the firearms licensing team and will be available to provide crime prevention advice, giving members of rural communities an opportunity to speak directly with officers about concerns and practical measures relating to crime.
Police will also attend the Frame and Swift Open Day in Penrith on September 13. Officers will be supported by police mounted volunteers during the event, providing another opportunity for engagement with members of the public and allowing the force to maintain a visible presence at a community event connected with rural areas.
Specialist rural and wildlife crime training is also being delivered to student officers throughout the week. The training is intended to build knowledge and understanding of the particular issues associated with policing rural communities and wildlife crime, while helping new officers develop the specialist awareness needed when dealing with incidents in those environments.
Rural Crime Sergeant Amanda McKirdy said Cumbria’s rural communities are unique and that policing them requires strong relationships, local knowledge and trust. She said the national week provides an opportunity to highlight work carried out throughout the year to protect rural communities and address the issues that matter most to people living and working in those areas.
Sergeant McKirdy also said officers remain committed to being visible and accessible through agricultural shows, community events and day to day patrols. She encouraged anyone with concerns about crime or information about suspicious activity to speak with police, adding that recent investigations had been significantly assisted by intelligence provided by local communities.
She emphasised that information which may initially appear insignificant can still help officers build a wider picture and support ongoing investigations. The force is therefore encouraging people across rural Cumbria to report concerns and share information, alongside the enforcement and community engagement activity being carried out during Rural Crime Week of Action.
The combination of arrests, machinery recoveries, joint investigations, specialist training and community events demonstrates the range of activity being undertaken around rural crime in Cumbria. Police are continuing to encourage residents, farmers, businesses and other members of rural communities to maintain communication with officers and provide information that could assist investigations into offences affecting the county.
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