Police officers made another three arrests over the weekend in relation to the handling stolen goods in the run-up to Appleby Horse Fair.
The action was taken in the Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh and Burrells areas.
Three men aged in their 40s – two from the Kent area and one from Hartlepool – were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They were subsequently bailed with conditions including not to re-enter Cumbria.
As part of the enforcement action, officers on Saturday seized a further three caravans suspected of having been stolen outside of the county.
On Sunday, officers seized a motorhome, a van and three trailers suspected of being stolen.
The enforcement action was led by Cumbria police’s Rural Crime Team with the assistance of partner agencies including Datatag and the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team at the National Rural Crime Unit.
Superintendent Dan St Quintin, gold commander for Appleby Horse Fair, said: “The arrests we have made have been intelligence-led and aimed at targeting a small minority so that the vast majority of law-abiding people who are intending to come to the county to enjoy the fair positively can do so.
“The enforcement action we have taken so far in collaboration with our partners has been significant and we can assure the public that we will continue to act against anyone who commits criminal offences – whether here in Cumbria or elsewhere in the country.”
This action is just the latest aimed at people who have sought to bring stolen vehicles into Cumbria.
On May 25, officers arrested two men and seized four caravans and on May 27, officers a man in his 30s was arrested as officers seized a caravan and two transit vans.
The action taken by the police and partners has been supported in a statement by Gypsy and Traveller representatives, Billy Welch and Bill Lloyd.
They said: “Cumbria police have used good intelligence, modern technology and pro-active policing to identify and recover a significant number of stolen caravans.
“Some people have been quick to claim on social media that these pro-active police actions are heavy-handed harassment and persecution. We disagree. The Gypsy and Traveller representatives disassociate themselves from those comments. That is not our opinion, and we fully support this police action.
“We know nothing about the people found in possession of the stolen caravans, but that does not matter. Whilst investigations are on-going, we understand that some of the people affected – who were not arrested – had purchased their caravans innocently, not knowing that they were stolen, and they were themselves victims.
“We advise people to be very careful when buying a caravan – it easy to get scammed. It is unfortunate for anyone who finds out that they have bought a stolen caravan, but police were simply doing their job. The recoveries were carried out calmly and with no trouble, and with the full co-operation of those affected.
“We believe that all law-abiding people who are the majority visitors to the fair will have no complaint about this action, whether they are Romani Gypsies, ‘weekend Gypsies’, or horse lovers, adventurous holiday makers, or day visitors from the settled community.
“However, anyone who knowingly brings stolen property to Appleby Fair deserves what they get. It is their own fault, and they will get no sympathy from us.
“Appleby Fair is a horse fair, and an ancient event with great cultural significance. It attracts all sorts of people, the majority of whom are not Gypsies. The priority of the Gypsy and Traveller representatives is to preserve the reputation of the fair so that it can continue for our children and grandchildren and future generations.
“We have never tried to defend or condone criminality of any description and we never will, which is why we congratulate the police on their good intelligence and the smooth and efficient recovery operations.”
