23 vehicles stopped as part of Operation Ragwort

Last week, Wiltshire Police with colleagues from Dorset Police, Wiltshire Council Enforcement Team and The Environment Agency, undertook a proactive operation targeting unlicensed Waste Carrying, Disposal and Fly Tipping.

The Operation took place on the A303 around the Warminster Neighbourhood Policing area and 23 vehicles were stopped, examined and permits requested in a 3-hour period.

Inspector Andy Lemon of the Wiltshire Rural Crime Team said: “We are pleased to announce that no offences, linked to illegal waste carrying and disposal were discovered. One driver was warned about a worn tyre and one driver was issued with a Fixed Penalty Fine for use of a mobile phone, whilst driving his vehicle.”

“The longer-term work of Op Ragwort will include further operations linked to offences of unlicensed waste carrying/disposal, fly tipping and rural and farm thefts. With the south west forces working closer together the disruption to organised crime groups will help make the whole region a hostile environment for those taking part in rural, crime, heritage crime and wildlife crime.”

“All Forces in the south-west have been running operations as part of Op Ragwort this month.”

The work in Wiltshire yesterday was in conjunction with partners from Wiltshire Council and the Environment agency and was the first joined up collaborative working between South-West Forces under Operation Ragwort. 

The aim of Op Ragwort is to improve inter-agency intelligence sharing and act on that intelligence to prevent rural crime across the south west.

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