Crime | Posted on September 19th, 2025 | return to news

Dorset Police clamp down on rural crime

Officers made several arrests and recovered stolen property during a week of action to prevent, tackle and reduce rural crime.

Officers from Dorset Police teamed up with neighbouring forces from the Avon & Somerset and Wiltshire constabularies to make several arrests and recover stolen property during a week of action from Monday 8 September to Sunday 14 September.

Through targeted operations and high-visibility patrols, the week of action aimed to disrupt, prevent and reduce rural crime.

Officers tackled illegal poaching and hare coursing, worked with partner agencies to prevent waste and environmental crime and delivered community engagement events to members of the public.

The week yielded several results, including:

The arrest of a 28-year-old man from the Ilchester area of Somerset in connection with several rural burglaries and thefts in the West Dorset area.
The recovery of a quad bike reported as stolen from the Gillingham area. A 23-year-old woman from Wimborne Minster was arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been released on police bail as enquiries continue.
Officers responding to reports of lamping in the North Dorset area, attempted fuel theft from a building site and a burglary.
Visits to equine stables in the North Dorset area where riders were provided with crime prevention advice and tack marking kits.
A fly tipping site was identified thanks to rural crime and traffic officers collaborating in a targeted operation with Dorset Council and the Environmental Agency.
Several vehicles were stopped and seized after being suspected as stolen or connected to criminal activity, including a van, two quad bikes and a motorbike.
A number of garden tools suspected as stolen were located inside a stopped vehicle.
Traffic officers issued 11 fixed penalty notices for various offences, arrested a person for drug driving and seized a further vehicle where the driver could not provide a valid licence.

Inspector Adam Gill, of the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said: “The aim of this regional week of action was to strengthen our collaborative ties with neighbouring forces and local partners by sharing intelligence, proactively tackling all forms of rural crime and holding suspected offenders accountable for their actions.

“Our work this week led to arrests, new lines of enquiry and the seizure of suspected stolen vehicles and property.

“I would like to reassure those living in our rural areas that we remain committed to protecting you and your property, listening to your concerns and driving down rural crime.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “This week of action against rural crime highlights the true benefits of partnership working. The challenges facing Dorset’s rural areas are complex and tackling them requires more than policing alone.

“I want to thank every partner agency, officer, volunteer and member of police staff who contributed to making this week of action such a success. The outcomes speak for themselves—arrests were made, stolen property was recovered and, most importantly, our countryside was safeguarded from those seeking to harm it.”

If you have any information relating to issues affecting your community, you can report it by visiting the Dorset Police website.

For information about upcoming engagement events and the latest crime prevention advice, you can follow the Dorset Rural Crime Team on Facebook and Instagram.