THE crackdown on rural crime continues as police officers team up with the rural community.

Dorchester police officers went out on patrol overnight to deter people from committing crimes in the rural community.

Officers were joined by game keepers and farmers who acted as spotters for suspicious vehicles in the area, as part of Operation Shogun.

Suspicious vehicles were stopped and searched.

The operation discovered one car full of people that had previous convictions to rural crimes.

Inspector Les Fry, Neighbourhood Inspector for Dorchester said the operation this month had been a success and was a strong deterrent to those thinking of committing crime.

He said: “Operation Shogun is a great example of the police and the rural community working together to prevent and deter those intent on committing crime in the rural areas.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank those members of the community who gave up their time to assist us in the operation.

“Between 10pm and 4am the weather was atrocious with wind and rain, but the team stuck to their task.”

He added: “During the operation, we stopped and searched a car containing people that have previous convictions for rural theft offences.

“I am confident that our presence during the operation ensured that these individuals, and anyone else considering committing rural crime in the area, did not do so.

“We will be repeating this operation whenever and wherever there is a need.

“We want the criminals who are intent on targeting rural areas to know that we will be working very closely with the rural community in various ways, including Operation Shotgun and through Operation Countryside, to reduce crime in these areas.”

The ongoing police presence is all part of an operation to tackle crime in the countryside.

Dorset Police used a donated police tractor to promote their initiative to tackle rural crime at public events.

Police have also been urging people to sign up to the Stop That Thief and Stop That Oil schemes.

Stop That Thief promotes the use of mobile burglary alarm systems to prevent thefts from rural businesses and Stop That Oil sees officers supply domestic oil tank owners with details of registered oil tank installers and alarm fitters.

Police also issued a warning to rural areas after a series of suspicious barn fires in the autumn.