SIX people were arrested following a police operation, which saw warrants executed in the Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and other areas of Gloucestershire.

Four men and two women were arrested and plant machinery worth more than £300,000 was seized on Wednesday, August 19 under “Operation Alchemy”, which looks to crack down on organised rural crime.

The co-ordinated day of action saw police execute six warrants at farm sites and commercial premises including at Redmarley, Staunton, Stroud, Pendock and Ledbury.

Ten items of suspected stolen plant machinery were recovered from a site in Redmarley including excavators, dumper trucks and a suspected stolen car. Meanwhile, a suspected stolen tractor and suspected stolen car were seized from a site in Staunton.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, handling stolen goods and theft at a site in Redmarley.

A woman in her 50s was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of fraud and forgery, in relation to the Staunton site.

In Pendock, ten items of suspected stolen plant machinery including excavators and dumper trucks, including one truck that had been reported stolen from Cardiff the same morning, were seized.

Two men were arrested; a man in his 50s on suspicion of theft, and a man in his 30s on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Also in Pendock, four items of suspected stolen plant machinery and a suspected stolen car were seized. In Stroud, a suspected stolen roller from a commercial premises was recovered.

In Herefordshire, a woman in her 30s was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods at an address in Ledbury.

Inspector Dan Wakeford, of Gloucestershire Police, said: “Crime can have a huge impact on those living and working in our rural communities.

“We want to make our whole region a hostile environment for those taking part in rural, wildlife and heritage crime.

“Rural crimes are often under-reported. Our hope is that operations like this will help our rural communities feel empowered, recognised and confident in the police.”

Inspector Billy Keys, from the Rural Crime team, said: “Yesterday’s (August 19) strike day targeted organised criminals who operate in our rural communities, and I’m delighted it resulted in six arrests and a large amount of plant machinery and vehicles seized, including some that had been stolen the same morning.

“This was thanks to a well-planned and co-ordinated police and multi-agency approach that brought all skills and resources together. We will continue such work in the future to protect people and businesses from criminality in rural areas.

“As well as the successes achieved, days of action like Operation Alchemy also cause disruption to suspected criminal gangs and evidence gathered will support future investigations for the police and our partner agencies.”

Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, Head of NCATT, added: “Op Alchemy has supported NCATT’s ongoing efforts to tackle organised criminal groups involved in stealing high-value agricultural and construction plant equipment across the UK.

“This operation was not just about protecting valuable commercial assets; it was also about confronting organised crime gangs who exploit our rural areas and cause harm to the communities who live there.”