Stolen tractor and firearms seized in farming vehicle crackdown

Firearms and a stolen tractor, excavator and caravan were all seized by police in North Kent as part of a crackdown on unroadworthy agricultural vehicles.

The haul, seized from a farm off University Way in Dartford, was discovered on the first day of a three-day initiative which ran from Tuesday 2 September to Thursday 4 September in both the North Kent and West Kent policing areas.

Two men, aged 55 and 79, were arrested in connection with the stolen vehicles and have been bailed by police pending further inquiries.

The multi-agency operation, which included Kent Police, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and VOSA, targeted agricultural plant and farming vehicles being used on the roads. During static checks, rigorous checks were made on the roadworthiness of the vehicles stopped. Drivers were also quizzed to ensure they had the necessary documentation.

In total, 11 agricultural vehicles made up of tractors, trailers and a combine harvester, were stopped over the three days. Just two of the vehicles were found to be fully compliant by all of the agencies. Thirteen enforcement notices for varying offences, found on vehicles both on and off the road, were issued by the Health and Safety Executive and VOSA found 14 vehicles to be in a dangerous condition. Two drivers were reported for tax offences and one was issued with an endorsable fixed penalty notice resulting in a £60 fine and three points.

PC Chris Fuller, from North Kent, said: "These three days of action show what can be achieved when agencies combine their resources.

"We were able to recover thousands of pounds worth of stolen property and prosecute offenders who were driving vehicles, both illegally and in a dangerous condition, on Kent’s roads."

Mike Walters, principal inspector for HSE, said: "It is once again disappointing to find that nearly all agricultural equipment we stopped on the roads of north and west Kent were found to be illegal in one way or another.

"The agricultural industry needs to look closely at all mobile equipment before it is used both on and off road to make sure that it is safe and legal."