Rural Task Force

A team of local police officers have been given a national award after recovering more than £4million worth of stolen property.

Kent Police’s Rural Task Force were named 'Best Team' at the annual Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) Awards, held last Thursday (6th November) evening at JCB’s World Headquarters near Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.

Run by the Construction Equipment Association, the awards recognise organisations tackling theft and fraud in the agricultural and construction industries.

Suspected stolen items valued at more than £80,000 have been seized in two days following work by the Rural Task Force in Swale.

Caravans, vehicles and cabling were recovered, and a suspected copper thief arrested, after officers targeted locations in Sittingbourne, Newington and the Isle of Sheppey.

Kent Police was alerted to a theft in progress shortly after midnight on Thursday (18th September). It was reported that copper cabling had been taken from an industrial site in Minster-On-Sea.

Waste carriers were targeted last week (Tuesday 30th January) as part of a regular crackdown on fly-tipping acropss the borough. 

Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to crack down on suspected fly-tipping, collect evidence, and take enforcement action for waste related crimes. 

Outcomes of the day were: 

• 7 vehicles stopped and searched
• 2 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) issued

Each offender received a fixed penalty notice of £300 for failing to produce a permit to carry waste, or the necessary documents. 

Two lorries have been seized by officers during a multi-agency operation here in Swale.

Officers from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force joined forces with staff from the Environment Agency on the morning of Saturday (25th March) in response to concerns surrounding waste being illegally transported and tipped in Eastchurch.

During the operation police stopped three Scania tipper lorries to check they were road worthy and had the relevant waste licences. While one lorry driver was sent on their way, two other drivers had their vehicles seized.