Police quiz Northumberland motorists over harassment, drugs and poaching offences

Operation Roland saw Northumbria Police officers working with special constables in a targeted bid to disrupt the activities of criminals travelling into the region from other areas.

The two-day operation used prior intelligence to target key areas and carry out a number of vehicle stops and patrols.

One resulted in the arrest of a man on suspicion of harassment as well as suspected links to poaching.

Other vehicles stopped were linked to suspected drug use and further poaching offences.

Sergeant Ian Pattison, one of the officers leading the operation, said: “A large part of this operation was down to intelligence gathered by officers behind the scenes which helps us gain a full understanding of targeted areas and enables us to respond swiftly and effectively.

“We carried out a number of checks and patrols across Northumberland and this sort of activity will continue going forward. We won’t become complacent in cross-border and rural crime and will remain dedicated to tackling the issue and protecting communities.

“I encourage residents to stay vigilant and report anything suspicious to police and look out for neighbours and more vulnerable residents in the community.

“Together we can send a strong message to offenders that these types of targeted crimes will not be tolerated in our area and anyone found to be participating in any criminal activity will see the full consequences of their actions.”

Anyone with any concerns or suspicions should contact Northumbria Police via 101 or by reporting online on our website.