POLICE forces across the country have launched a further crackdown on travelling criminals.

As part of continued attempts to tackle rural crime, seven police forces, including North Yorkshire Police, have worked together to target criminals travelling from the north of England and Scotland.

A total of 254 vehicles were stopped, three people arrested, 17 motorists fined and seven vehicles seized as part of Operation Checkpoint on Tuesday, September 9.

North Yorkshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Paul Kennedy, said: “This show of force sends a clear message to criminals that we are on the look out for any kind of criminal activity and are all united with the aim of disrupting their behaviour and bringing them to justice, no matter where they choose to operate.

“We are determined to make our region a safer place where law-abiding people are not plagued by criminals who help themselves to other peoples’ property. "

86 officers from North Yorkshire, Durham, Cleveland, Cumbria, Northumbria, Scotland and British Transport Police were involved in the operation, which was the third of its kind since January 2014, designed to gather intelligence about travelling criminals, disrupt their use of the road network and bring anyone found breaking the law to justice.

Rural crime across the region has been steadily declining year on year since 2009. Officers also used Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology to target vehicles they suspected of being connected to criminality as part of the operation which took place between 10.30am-8pm.