Watch: Seven arrests in police raids across county in major operation tackling rural crime
Seven teams made up of officers from West Mercia and Dyfed-Powys Police hit seven addresses across Shropshire on Wednesday in a major operation hoping to tackle rural crime.
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Before the sun had even risen on Wednesday, dozens of police officers were preparing to execute a series of warrants, aiming to take down a suspected organised crime group believed to be behind rural crime that has cost victims millions of pounds.
Packed, standing room only, into one of the conference rooms of Shrewsbury Police Station, officers from West Mercia and Dyfed-Powys Police gathered for the rural crime 'Strike Day' briefing.
The operation, dubbed Op Gander, began life in July 2023, following what DS Ben Docherty called "a massive spike" in rural and agricultural crime.
He told the room of officers: "It includes [thefts of] things like tractors, UTVs, ATVs, quads - very expensive farming equipment.
"Between July and now in Shropshire alone, we're looking at between five and ten million pounds worth of equipment."
Seven teams were quickly dispatched to seven addresses, in the hope of making six arrests and just after 7am, officers around the county were in position to execute the warrants in one fell swoop.
