Operation Winterberry launches

Despite the wind and rain, officers from Police Scotland and Northumbria Police delivered Operation Winterberry on Wednesday, 28 September, 2022, a joint initiative to tackle rural crime perpetrated by travelling organised crime groups. 

Police Scotland was supported by road policing officers from both sides of the Border, including those in Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders Community Action Team and Northumbria’s Rural Policing Team and Neighbourhood Teams.

A number of high visibility road checks were conducted at various points along the national Border, covering the main arterial trunk roads as well as those quieter rural routes often favoured by travelling criminals. 

During the course of the operation, which spanned much of the border, officers stopped and checked 147 vehicles. One vehicle was uplifted and one driver was reported in connection with road traffic offences.  

A number of roads were patrolled by road policing officers with a particular focus on the A7, B6357, B7201 and officers made several checks at service stations on the A(M)74.

Two drivers were given police warnings and several other motorists were provided with information and advice.

Chief Inspector Vincent Fisher, Local Area Commander for the Scottish Borders said “Operation Winterberry is recognition of the fact travelling criminals do not respect regional boundaries and travel throughout the country, targeting vulnerable rural properties, depriving people of vehicles, quad bikes, trailers and other items of equipment often vital to livelihoods and the care of livestock. 

“There is already an excellent flow of intelligence back and forth between Police Scotland and other forces in the north of England, and Winterberry demonstrates a high level of operational collaboration , with officers from English and Scottish forces working closely on the ground, pooling resources, sharing local intelligence, tactics and best practice.”

Inspector Garry Neill, of Northumbria Police’s Rural Policing Team, welcomed the joint initiative as the Force’s rural crime crackdown continues to gather momentum.

He said: “Offenders who target our rural communities quite often travel large distances across borders in a bid to disguise their criminality. That’s why it’s imperative we continue to work together with our neighbouring forces and partners to tackle it.

“This level of collaboration with our colleagues in Scotland and other forces in the north of England is an efficient and effective way of making best use of our resource, skills and knowledge.

“Tackling rural crime is a priority for Northumbria Police and a significant amount of work is ongoing, aided by the vital support of our Rural Crime Volunteers, to tackle rural crime and support communities who live in remote areas.

“Initiative such as Farm Watch and Operation Checkpoint are consistently getting results, and we look forward to further joint initiatives with Police Scotland, neighbouring forces and our partners over the coming weeks and months.”