Over 100 vehicles were stopped and checked during the third phase of ‘Operation Ragworth’, a cross-county effort led by Wiltshire Police to disrupt and deter agricultural machinery theft in the southwest.
Operation Ragwort is a collaborative initiative comprised of Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Thames Valley Police, in addition to Wiltshire Police.
The third iteration of Operation Ragwort took place on March 3-4, across two of Wiltshire’s major road networks, the A303 and the A419, and included over 60 police officers from all six forces.
Staff from partner agencies, including vehicle examiners from the National Rural Crime Unit and Environment Agency officers, were also involved in the action.
The aim of this operation was to stop and check all vehicles towing trailers carrying quad bikes, livestock, agricultural equipment, and plant machinery, along two key Wiltshire road networks, to prevent and disrupt the transportation of stolen machinery.
Rural crime tactical lead for Wiltshire Police and regional rural crime lead, Superintendent James Brain, 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,” he added.
Operation Ragworth
Over the course of two days, over 100 vehicles were stopped and checked, 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.
Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, who sits on the board of the National Rural Crime Network, said: “Those criminals coming to the southwest to target our rural communities and threaten their livelihoods will soon learn that they are not welcome here.
“Across the south, 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,” he added.
