A rural crime team has recovered more than £820,000 worth of stolen property in its first year.

The police unit, established in Cumbria last autumn, has also made dozens of arrests, slashed quad bike thefts by 10 per cent, and seized 17 vehicles.

In their bid to curb crime in rural areas, they have executed 10 warrants, searched 34 properties, and supported 42 operations.

These include Operation Checkpoint, where they collaborated with the border force to thwart criminals targeting the county.

The team has also made more than 200 visits to victims of rural crime.

Sergeant Amanda McKirdy, from the rural crime team, said: "We celebrated our one year as a team continuing our aims of disrupting criminality and engaging with our rural communities.

(Image: Cumbria Police)

"We attended the Westmorland Show then supported both regional and national weeks of action - Operation Checkpoint and Alliance aimed at disrupting rural and vehicle crime."

Operation Alliance is a national initiative to combat serious organised vehicle crime.

During a week of action, the rural crime team conducted two days of operations in the north east, targeting vehicle crime suspects and conducting joint site visits with the Environment Agency.

This led to four arrests, including a man from Durham for theft of scrap metal and car parts in Cumbria and other areas.

The rural crime team also participated in Operation Checkpoint on September 14, stopping 76 vehicles, seizing one, and making two arrests.

They also made 38 positive engagements.

Chief Inspector Natalie Jukes, the force's rural crime lead, said: "The introduction of the dedicated rural crime team supporting the wider constabulary in targeting rural crime has been a success in the reduction in reports and property recovered.

"The team have worked hard over the last year to reach out to our rural communities, conducting visits and giving rural crime prevention advice.

"This has given us a wider understanding of the issues they are facing and how we can deter and target criminals.

"Rural crime is not victimless, the theft of machinery, fuel and other rural and wildlife offences have a negative impact on our communities financially and emotionally."

Cumbria's Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, added: "Cumbria is a rural county so it’s imperative that tackling and preventing rural crime is a priority.

"It was also one of my commitments that I gave in my pre-election manifesto – that I would tackle rural crime, so I am very pleased to see that the rural crime team are having a positive effect across the county – a savings of £820,000 is no small feat, as is reducing quad bike thefts by 10 per cent.

"These thefts really do affect livelihoods so we need to continue to build on this positive work.

"As your Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, my role is to be the voice of residents within Cumbria, in respect of the police and fire services – I am your voice.

"If any member of the public has a concern about rural crime, crime in general in their area, or around the constabulary or Cumbria fire and rescue service, please raise it with me at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk or call 01768 217734."