Newark: Seven vehicles searched and 44 stopped by police in Flintham, Syerston and Screveton as part of Rushcliffe Reacher rural crime operation

Police say they are making significant in-roads in the fight against rural crime through an ongoing operation launched in response to concerns in rural communities that they were softer targets for burglary and theft.

Operation Sahara is taking place in the villages north of Bingham, run by Rushcliffe’s Reacher team.

The latest areas to benefit from a dedicated police blitz over two days were Flintham, Syerston and Screveton.

Rushcliffe’s district commander Inspector Craig Berry said it had made a significant impact on the ability of travelling criminals to operate.

He said: “Once a month we do days of action in a different area targeting rural crime problems. We carry out vehicle stops, enforcement and gather intelligence.

“The operation was launched at a time of a gradually-emerging crime problem of theft and acquisitive crime within rural communities, particularly overnight. This included the theft of plant machinery, vehicles, particularly off-road ones, and power tools.

“In response to that, we developed our intelligence and carried out a lot of enforcement action last year ­— executing search warrants to recover stolen property and arresting a number of people.

“We dealt with that problem but kept a focus on burglary and theft in rural areas and periodically run these operations, taking the fight to rural areas where people told us they felt quite vulnerable.

“We are there to show them that we doing our job, showing a presence and reassuring them.”

The operation’s aim is to disrupt the activities of the travelling criminal by stopping the vehicles that they use, whether they be stolen, on cloned plates, unroadworthy, or uninsured.

On the first day of the latest action, two people were reported for summons to court for having no insurance, and a vehicle was seized.

Another vehicle was reported for no road tax, a prohibition notice was issued for a vehicle defect, one driver is to be prosecuted for speeding and another for not being in proper control of their vehicle. One driver was given advice on an insecure load.

Following day two, three drivers will be prosecuted for having no insurance, two vehicles were seized, one driver is to be prosecuted for not being in proper control of their vehicle, two for driving while using a mobile phone, and two for contravening red traffic lights.

Seven vehicles were searched and 44 stopped.

Reacher has also been using Nottinghamshire Police’s drone for scoping areas and directing ground units.

“It is important vehicles used in criminality are taken off our roads,” said Inspector Berry.

“We are definitely seeing a downward trend in acquisitive crime in rural locations. Our roads policing operations are having a significant effect. It’s bearing fruit.

“Whenever we receive intelligence we will act on it, raid and make arrests.

“Where the problem goes, we will follow.”

More days of action are planned for July and August.