Craig Williams MP has welcomed a major cross-border police operation aimed at tackling a recent spike of rural crime in Powys and Shropshire.
Last Wednesday, officers from both West Mercia Police and Dyfed-Powys Police joined forces for a rural crime ‘Strike Day’, which saw seven members of an organised crime group (OCG) within Shropshire arrested simultaneously. Large sums of cash, farm machinery and tools were also recovered.
This follows months of collaboration between the two forces, following a significant increase in agricultural thefts on farms across the Powys and Shropshire border since last July. Operation Cladshaw (Dyfed-Powys Police) and Operation Gander (West Mercia Police) had identified a number of trends and critical evidence trails, enabling the two forces to come together to share intelligence. A total of seventeen Dyfed-Powys Police offices travelled over to West Mercia on the Strike Day to supplement their arrest teams.
It is estimated that a minimum of twenty to thirty crimes from the Dyfed-Powys region will be included once all evidence has been reviewed.
Welcoming the news, Craig Williams MP said:
“Well done to both Dyfed-Powys and West Mercia police forces on their collaborative work, which has led to last week’s major operation.
“From last summer, a major spike in rural crime along the Montgomeryshire and Shropshire border has seen over £10million of thefts – a devastating blow for so many local farmers and businesses. Seven key figures of an organised crime group who are believed to be behind the thefts have now been arrested, along with millions of pounds of stolen equipment and vehicles having already been recovered.
“Since this huge increase in farm thefts first broke out last year, I have maintained regular dialogue with both the Dyfed-Powys Chief Constable and Police & Crime Commissioner to urge more protection for Montgomeryshire farmers and farm businesses. The Force’s work has been key to this operation, with critical DNA and footwear evidence retrieved from Powys crimes – allowing them to support a ‘conspiracy’ case with West Mercia Police.
“Last week’s strike is very positive news for farmers and businesses across Montgomeryshire, retrieving millions of pounds of stolen equipment, bringing those responsible to justice and putting an end to this extremely distressing spate of thefts.”
