Quick work in the rural community leads to five arrests

Collaborative working between the Craven Rural Watch, Rural Task Force ,Neighbourhood policing team,response and Roads Policing officers have led to five arrests.

Yesterday afternoon (Thursday 06 March 2025) the suspicions of a local farmer were raised when a vehicle was hovering around his farm in Kilnsey.The quick-thinking farmer immediately alerted the local rural watch team who in a matter of minutes passed details to police officers.

CCTV operatives worked with our Force Control Room to establish further details about the vehicle and its direction of travel. Our Specialist Operations units deployed to the area and the vehicle was stopped at 6pm near Coniston Cold.

The five occupants in the car aged 19,20,21,22,and boy aged 16 were all arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, the 21-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of drug driving. They currently remain in police custody.

Inspector Julie Earnshaw from the Craven Neighbourhood Policing team said:“Our rural communities are vital in helping us to tackle crime. They are our eyes and ears and as yesterday’s incident shows farmers can provide quick time information which helps us move our resource to intercept any potential criminal activity.

“ I hope that this will give a clear message that we are committed to working together to actively prevent, deter and catch criminals who think it is ok to target rural communities.“