PROSECUTION for poaching, arresting tractor thieves and tackling fly-tipping are some of the achievements made by Dorset Police's Rural Crime Team recently. The team's efforts were recognised as part of a national Rural Crime Day of Action, which took place on Thursday.

Known hotspots for rural crime were targeted by police the night before, with four people arrested on suspicion of stealing livestock.

The joint operation was led by officers from north and east Dorset, the rural crime team, traffic and special constabulary units.

Two men aged 40 and 52 and two women aged 36 and 22 were arrested on suspicion of theft of livestock. All four have been released under investigation.

Two sheep were recovered from a vehicle and returned to their owner.

On the rural crime day of action, current enforcement plans and the most prolific offenders in the area were discussed.

Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “The percentage of Dorset residents not reporting rural crime was lower than the national average according to the results of the National Rural Crime Survey. But we know that what is reported is only part of the picture.

“The Chief Constable and I are committed to improving the rural crime response, but we need the public’s help to better understand the nature and scale of the problem. "The more reports the police receive on rural crime, the more accurate our recorded crime figures are. It gives us a better understanding of the demand that police are facing and therefore enables us to better allocate the resources that are needed to fight it. If you take action on rural crime by reporting it, you are helping the police take action to tackle it.”