Cheshire Constabulary swoop on Beeston Farmers’ Market to crack down on stolen vehicles

Feb 18 2010 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

Cheshire Constabulary swoop on Beeston Farmers’ Market to crack down on stolen vehicles

POLICE swooped on a popular farmers’ market to crack down on stolen vehicles and equipment.

Cheshire Constabulary officers were joined by Trading Standards and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to launch a new operation at Beeston Market yesterday (Wednesday).

Horseboxes, trailers and vans were checked for registration numbers and tax while serial numbers of farming equipment and tools were detected by UV lamps.

Tattenhall PC Tony Owens said that Operation Aida would send a clear message to those criminals who target Cheshire’s rural residents and farming industry.

“There are lots of stolen goods that have passed through here in the past,” he said. “Some items have then been sold at auction. But by being here we are sending a message to the community.

“We will be running this operation alongside Operation Maldives which involves neighbouring police forces to stop moving vehicles along the A41, A49 and the main routes around rural Cheshire.”

At the time The Chronicle went to press, more than 1,000 vehicles were stopped with several taken off the road by VOSA due to safety reasons.

Inspector Phil Hodgson said: “In terms of public feedback, there has been an overwhelming expression of support from the farming community for the operation.

“We have sent a clear message that we do take thefts of our agricultural equipment extremely seriously and we will employ these tactics again.”

Market traders, some having travelled long distances to Beeston, were unhappy that the operation was being carried out at the start of the day.

A trader from Walsall, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s absolutely killed it today.

“I agree that they have to do this sort of thing but why don’t they wait until the end of the market and then they catch people coming out.

“As soon as they are spotted first thing in the morning, they get onto the mobile phone and warn their mates not to bother.

“This market at February half-term is supposed to be the best trading day since before Christmas but it’s dead. Even the regulars who are completely innocent are put off because it’s not worth the hassle getting checked.”