Five police forces took part in Operation Checkpoint earlier this week with the aim of providing reassurance patrols across rural communities, gathering intelligence and intercepting travelling criminals.

The operation saw more than 80 officers from North Yorkshire, Durham, Cleveland, Cumbria and Northumbria Police, take to the roads in what is the fourth operation of its kind, designed to create a hostile environment for travelling criminals to operate.

Intelligence shows that organised crime groups are targeting rural areas, moving across county borders in the north of England to steal goods, predominantly from rural communities.

Operation Checkpoint allows all forces across the north of England to share and gather intelligence about travelling criminals, disrupt their use of the road network and bring anyone found breaking the law to justice.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology played a big part in the operation, helping officers to identify vehicles linked to criminality. North Yorkshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy, who is also the Association of Chief Police Officer's lead for ANPR, said: "The use of ANPR is a vital tool when it comes to tackling rural crime and travelling criminals, helping us to identify those who are suspected of being involved in crime and disrupt them in their tracks.

"We recognise that rural communities face particular issues and this operation is designed to enhance North Yorkshire Police's existing Operation Hawk, a dedicated team of officers who are deployed to rural areas and across borders to intercept criminals and protect our communities.

"By joining together with neighbouring police forces our capability and opportunities to gather information and disrupt criminals are enhanced. We look forward to more collaborative operations in the future and my thanks goes to all forces who have taken part."

30 officers in North Yorkshire worked alongside colleagues across the Cleveland, Durham and Cumbrian borders along routes in the Stokesley, Yarm, Croft, Stapleton, Ravensworth, Stang, Reeth, and Grinton areas.

ACC Kennedy added: "As well as police operational activity we were also supporting residents in rural areas with advice about crime prevention with the distribution of a rural crime prevention booklet.

"Taking basic crime prevention steps is vital for all residents, but particularly important for people who live and work in remote, rural areas where natural surveillance is limited."

The rural crime booklet contains useful information on protecting your property, animals and equipment as well as useful contacts and information about watch schemes.

Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, added: "Cross-border criminality is a major issue with about a third of crime being committed by criminals from outside North Yorkshire.

"Our bordering counties have higher levels of crime than we do and having the right tools to catch travelling criminals is vitally important. My recent £1 million investment in ANPR will help us keep a close eye on those criminals, disrupting their activities and bringing them to justice. Working with neighbouring forces is an important part of cutting crime."

Julia, who is also Chair of the National Rural Crime Network, added "The new rural crime prevention booklet will be a valuable resource for those living in rural communities but I can not stress how important it is for rural communities to report all crime to the police."

NORTH YORKSHIRE RESULTS 40 vehicles stopped Eight people searched Four vehicles searched One vehicle seized Cannabis worth £600 seized £890 cash seized