Police officers stopped more than 20 vehicles as part of an operation to demonstrate how rural crime is tackled in Dorset.

The online event was designed to reassure members of the public who could follow along via social media as officers patrolled rural areas of Dorset – showcasing a ‘day in the life’ of a Rural Crime Team officer.

The event follows on from Operation Galileo, which saw multiple police forces join together to target poaching, in particular hare coursing.

Dorset Echo: Dorset Police officer pulling over a truck carrying a digger to check if it is stolen Dorset Police officer pulling over a truck carrying a digger to check if it is stolen (Image: Dorset Police)

Four police cars were specifically tasked with targeting vehicles associated to poaching crimes, whilst a further three were stationed on the Puddletown bypass, looking to pull over caravans, quad bikes, white vans and vehicles travelling with trailers to check that they haven’t been reported as stolen.

Dorset Police say that more than 20 vehicles were stopped as part of the operation, including two traffic offences, and two vehicles were seized with the help of the Environment Agency and Dorset Council for fly tipping and waste carrier offences.

Dorset Echo: A Police Community Support Officer at a Community Contact Point in Dorset A Police Community Support Officer at a Community Contact Point in Dorset (Image: Dorset Police)

During the day officers also engaged with rural communities across five community contact points in the county and visited properties and locations in areas to help prevent and reassure people of potential crime, and gather intelligence.

Four Rural Mounted Volunteers also patrolled areas across the county and reported another fly tipping offence and some suspicious activity.

Dorset Echo: A Dorset Police Mounted Rural Volunteer out on patrol in rural Dorset A Dorset Police Mounted Rural Volunteer out on patrol in rural Dorset (Image: Dorset Police)

A conditional caution was also issued to a man for a firearms offence and officers on the operation also attended a car crash, took two crime reports and stopped two more vehicles on behalf of other forces who had requested the occupant's details.