Police from six regions across northern England have joined forces for a rural crime crackdown.

Operation Checkpoint is a multi-force operation targeting travelling criminals operating between counties in the north of England and Scotland.

The operation involved North Yorkshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire and Northumbria on Wednesday (13 September).

The six forces have come together for the operation more than a dozen times now, with Cumbria Constabulary being the lead force this time around.

    See also: Police come together against rural crime

In North Yorkshire, a total of 35 vehicles were stopped, with three vehicles seized.

Neighbouring forces also made three arrests – on suspicion of drug driving, drink driving and burglary. We also summoned two people for poaching offences.

Inspector Jon Grainge of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce said: “We’re really happy with how the joint operation went.

“We had more than thirty volunteers out with us, who supported our officers on the night.

“Their efforts are fundamental in helping us deter and catch people, who are thinking of crossing the borders to commit crime.”

Inspector Jo Fawcett of Cumbria Police said forces involved had an excellent working relationship with each other which was enhanced through operations such as Checkpoint.

She added: “By working together, Cumbria Constabulary and neighbouring forces improve our ability to stop offending by travelling criminals before the offences take place.

“Not only does the operation send out a clear message to criminals that the area is no soft touch, it also reassures the public of the resources being made to prevent such rural criminality.

Inspector Fawcett said it was as important as ever that police continued to receive information about rural crime and suspected criminality from the public.

“It is only with the help of the public that we can identify issues and make sure they are effectively and efficiently dealt with,” she said.