Dorset Police's Rural Crime Team has reported a string of successes following a week-long crackdown on rural crime carried out in partnership with neighbouring forces.

Rural Crime Action Week ran from Monday 7 September to Sunday 13 September 2026, with the county's Rural Crime Team joining forces with Wiltshire Police and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary for a cross-border operation targeting crime in the countryside. Officers ran proactive patrols along the borders with neighbouring force areas, while also meeting farmers, landowners and rural residents to offer advice and gather intelligence.

The week produced several tangible results. Working alongside Avon and Somerset Police, officers seized a suspected stolen car that had been fitted with cloned number plates, arresting a 26-year-old man on suspicion of theft, weapons offences and driving offences; he was later released on bail. Separately, officers recovered several thousand pounds' worth of stolen plant machinery parts from an address in East Dorset, and traced a vehicle believed to have been used in a recent plant machinery theft, with enquiries continuing to identify those responsible.

The team also investigated a suspected case of deer poaching, which police say remains a persistent concern for rural communities and wildlife alike.

Beyond enforcement, officers focused heavily on prevention. Yard and tack security visits were carried out to advise landowners on protecting their property — including marking equipment with forensic products such as SelectaDNA, logging serial and chassis numbers, photographing valuables, and securing trailers. Targeted prevention visits also followed the theft of a quad bike, and the team held a Community Contact Point in Alderholt to hear directly from residents.

Inspector Adam Gill of Dorset Police's Rural Crime Team said the force remains "absolutely committed to tackling the issues that affect those living in our rural communities." He added that the week's cross-force collaboration had produced positive local results alongside broader intelligence-sharing with neighbouring forces.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick echoed that commitment, stressing the impact rural crime has on farming communities and rural businesses. He welcomed the week's outcomes and said the message to offenders was clear: Dorset would keep making it harder for them to operate.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about rural crime to report it via the Dorset Police website www.dorset.police.uk/, and residents can follow the Rural Crime Team on Facebook and Instagram for ongoing crime prevention advice and event updates.