Congleton Beat Officers joined forces with Cheshire's Rural Crime Team and Staffordshire Police this week to tackle crime along the border between the two counties.

The forces were on patrol for Operation Folly on Monday night (27th July), and were on the lookout for everything from road traffic offences to poaching.

Sgt Rob Simpson, of the Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team, explained how the operation aimed to "soften the border" between Staffordshire and Cheshire.

He said: "A massive thank you to our colleagues from Staffordshire Moorlands Police who joined us for Operation Folly last night.

"We were also joined by some great Cheshire Beat Officers from Congleton and Macclesfield and two great Special Constables too, so thank you to them all.

"The operation was designed to soften the entire length of the border between our two counties, and ensure two teams worked as one to target our shared criminality. It was a great way for us to support the rural and farming communities along our border areas.

"You might ask what we mean by softening the border - it means that we simply cross into each others areas whilst out on patrol denying any free roam to criminals."

The forces patrolled everywhere from heritage sites to remote tracks in the high areas of the county.

Sgt Simpson continued: "There were plenty of vehicles stopped for a variety of reasons from road traffic offences to those suspected to be involved in poaching.

"It's always great on these operations to see familiar faces and remind ourselves that we have colleagues just over the border, and right across the country, all doing the same kind of work.

"No arrests this time, but plenty of intel gathered for follow up work by both counties."