DURHAM Police led a huge operation targeting travelling criminals last night (Tuesday, February 3).

More than 100 officers from the Durham, North Yorkshire, Cleveland, Cumbria and Northumbria forces, along with their colleagues in Police Scotland, took part in Operation Checkpoint.

They were joined by 116 volunteers who are part of the regular Farmwatch operations - a community initiative similar to Neighbourhood Watch - in a bid to gather intelligence about travelling criminals, disrupt their use of the road network and arrest anyone found breaking the law.

The operation is the fifth of its kind since January 2014 and was staged from yesterday afternoon (February 3), into the early hours of today (February 4).

Officers used intelligence, police stop-searches and Automatic Number Plate Recognition kit (ANPR) throughout the night to stop and checked 189 vehicles, arrest three people and seize two vehicles.

Offences ranged from not wearing a seatbelt to officers in Cleveland arresting a man for a burglary and cable theft.

Superintendent, Kerrin Smith, who co-ordinated the operation for the region said: “This is the first time the two major operations have been brought together in this way to ensure we can fully utilise the great support we get from the Farmwatch networks.

“By having the volunteers deployed we can maximise their local knowledge across hundreds of square miles, directing officers to key points of interest and suspicious activity.”

“The operation also gives us the opportunity to provide reassurance in rural areas and brief farmers about the latest crime trends and ways to prevent issues.”

The constabulary used its 20 police vehicles that are fitted with ANPR technology to target vehicles suspected of being connected to crime, as well as targeting vehicles seen in suspicious circumstances.

The kit was used alongside about 100 roadside cameras, meaning information relating to suspect vehicles could be made available to officers carrying out the stop checks.

Detective Inspector, Caroline Dawson, intelligence manager for Durham Constabulary said: “Criminals do not respect borders and they should understand that police will respond in a similar fashion.

“Multi-force operations of this nature send a clear message to those travelling on the road network, often with the aim of targeting rural communities.”