Enforcement and engagement in rural crime operation.
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Hare coursing incidents were dealt with, multiple drivers stopped, and suspected stolen farm quad bikes recovered during a two-night rural crime operation in Redcar & Cleveland last week (Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th November).
Supported by North Yorkshire Police we aimed to tackle issues with local offenders who we believe to be travelling into their county to commit crime.
Cleveland Police Special Constabulary, a rural volunteer and colleagues from partner agencies also worked well into the early hours with high visibility foot and vehicle patrols visiting around 85 farms and four village halls over the two cold, wet and windy nights.
Practical support from North Yorkshire’s rural task force, traffic officers and information from their cameras meant we could deploy our mobile patrols efficiently and in total we stopped 10 vehicles; NPT Constable Lee Mapplebeck confirmed that two drivers were issued vehicle defect forms meaning they must remedy minor defects or face prosecution. They were also reported for summons for other traffic offences.
He added that another driver was reported to the DVLA for having an untaxed vehicle.
The teams also attended areas where nuisance or illegal motorbikes or quads have been reported as causing issues, however happily no offences were reported.
Three quad bikes which are suspected to be stolen from a farm in the Whitby area were later recovered in South Bank and two people were arrested.
Enquiries are ongoing.
And a suspicious vehicle which had been reported near several farms was later stopped by Cleveland Police Specialist Operations Unit colleagues; two suspects were arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicle, on suspicion of numerous driving offences including dangerous driving - and they'll also be questioned about an alleged assault on an emergency worker.
Both men are on bail while further enquiries by North Yorkshire Police into reports of thefts of agricultural trailers and horse boxes.
Two people were issued with community protection notice warnings in relation to previous reports of hare coursing.
Continuing the wildlife theme, Fisheries Officers from the Environment Agency patrolled the River Tees, Lockwood Beck and Skinningrove Beck to make sure no illegal fishing or poaching was taking place – fortunately there were no offences reported.
Redcar & Cleveland Neighbourhoods Chief Inspector Jon Hagen said: “We’d like to thank our own volunteers and our colleagues from North Yorkshire Police and partner agencies for their support last week.
"Our rural communities can be assured we’ll continue to support them by running further operations.
“We’d also encourage people to join our Rural Watch initiative, look under advice and information on the Cleveland Police website: Rural Watch | Cleveland Police “
