CLA joins joint police operation to disrupt and deter agricultural machinery theft in the South West
The third iteration of Operation Ragwort, led by Wiltshire Police, took place across two of Wiltshire’s major road networks,
We recently spent the day on patrol with a number of regional police forces as they took part in activities relating to Operation Ragwort.
Operation Ragwort is a joint initiative between the five police forces in the South West (Avon & Somerset Police, Dorset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, and Wiltshire Police), and the Police and Crime Commissioners for all five forces. Its aim is to robustly tackle serious organised and inquisitive crime across the region.
This was the third of Operation Ragworts planned coordinated activity and included high visibility vehicle stops along two key road networks linking Wiltshire with neighbouring counties - the A303 and the A419 - as well as the surrounding road network. The operation involved more than 60 police officers and staff from supporting agencies including the Environment Agency officers and vehicle inspectors from the National Rural Crime Unit.
The force’s Operational Lead for Rural Crime and Rural Crime Team Leader Inspector Andy Lemon said the aim of this operation was to stop and check all vehicles towing trailers carrying quad bikes, livestock, agricultural equipment, and plant machinery to prevent and disrupt the transportation of stolen machinery. This follows intelligence from Wiltshire Police which suggests the theft of agricultural machinery, plant machinery, horseboxes and farming tools has increased by 3% from 2023 to 2024.
During the course of the operation, more than 100 vehicles were stopped and checked, of which, two vehicles were seized, a suspected stolen trailer was recovered, and a vehicle prohibition was completed on a vehicle carrying a trailer containing a dangerous load. As a result of vehicle stops completed during the operation, the Environment Agency are following up on two cases of waste carrying breaches.
The two days of patrols were coordinated by Wiltshire Police in conjunction with Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson and provided an opportunity to hear about future plans for tackling rural crime in Wiltshire and the wider area.
Superintendent James Brain, Rural Crime Tactical Lead for Wiltshire Police and Regional Rural Crime Lead, said: “The aim of Operation Ragwort is two-fold, to disrupt and deter the organised theft of agricultural machinery and plant across our county borders, and reassure our rural communities that Wiltshire Police is committed to tackling rural crime. Wiltshire Police’s message is simple – if you have been a victim of rural crime, including agricultural machinery theft, please come forward and report this to the police online or by calling 101.
"Reports of crime help build intelligence and enable the Force to target resources and dedicate future operations to specific locations. Rural crime is a nationally-emerging threat, and Wiltshire Police are united with neighbouring police forces and partner agencies across the South West to prevent rural crimes from taking place.”
Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, who sits on the board of the National Rural Crime Network, said: “We take tackling rural crime very seriously. Rural crime is any crime that causes harm to the rural communities. Those criminals coming to the South West to target our rural communities and threaten their livelihoods will soon learn that they are not welcome here. Working together, our police forces will proactively target those committing rural crime and we will continue to build a richer intelligence picture of the organised crime groups linked to the activity which has caused significant physical and financial harm to our residents. We have started this intelligence led operation to target organised crime groups who are causing the most harm.
"We know gangs are stealing to order and can be in Europe before we know it. If we can get inside these networks, we can take them down holistically. I want people in our rural communities to know that myself and the other Police and Crime Commissioners – and our respective forces - are working relentlessly to ensure these criminals are driven out of our towns and villages. My appeal to them is to report any crimes in their area, so the police can collaboratively work together using intelligence to proactively disrupt those targeting our rural communities and causing harm”
Whilst the focus of the day was on the movement of vehicles, the CLA took the opportunity to discuss a wide variety of other rural crime including hare coursing, livestock worrying and fly-tipping.
With our regional police forces working closer together, it is hoped that the disruption to organised crime groups will help make the whole region a hostile environment for those taking part in rural crime.
The south west team meets regularly with all five of the regions police forces. If you would like to raise any issues or concerns, please contact Mark Burton, Duncan Anderson-Margetts or Chris Farr on 01249 599059.