THE Cheshire Rural Crime Team has been named the 2024 Rob Oliver Award winner for excellence in the fight against construction plant and agricultural machinery theft.
The award, which honours those making an outstanding contribution to tackling rural crime, was presented for the team’s efforts during Operation Walrus, a national initiative targeting GPS theft.
An organised crime group had orchestrated multiple thefts. Thanks to the determination, investigative skill, and persistence of the Cheshire Rural Crime Team, the criminals are now behind bars.
Superintendent Andy Huddleston, from the National Rural Crime Unit and National Construction & Agricultural Theft Team, said, “Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team justly deserve this prestigious award, and I would like to highlight their involvement in the national investigation of machinery GPS guidance thefts. It was outstanding and fundamental to the subsequent guilty plea of two international organised crime group members. Great work.”
Rob Oliver MBE was sadly unable to attend the awards evening due to illness. Dave Luscombe, CESAR Scheme & police liaison at the Construction Equipment Association, represented him on the night.
He said, “I was very honoured to be seated at the top table with the chief constable, the police and crime commissioner, and the senior magistrate for Cheshire. The evening was a real celebration of policing, including the swearing-in of new officers, the awarding of long service and meritorious conduct medals, and retirement honours. An audience of family and friends of the officers and the police band set the tone for a memorable night.”
Reflecting on the award, Rob Oliver MBE commented, “I’m sad I couldn’t be there in person to see the Cheshire Rural Crime Team receive this award, but I’m delighted their hard work has been recognised. Seeing how this award has grown in stature since it was first introduced is fantastic.
“Rural crime teams’ work in tackling machinery theft is vital, and it’s only right that we recognise their efforts. Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team have set a high bar with their determination and success in bringing criminals to justice. They are truly deserving winners.”
The award is named after Rob Oliver MBE, former chief executive of the CEA, owners of the CESAR Scheme. He was instrumental in designing the CESAR security marking and registration scheme. Under his leadership, CESAR became the world’s largest registration scheme, protecting over 650,000 items of the UK’s construction plant and agricultural machinery.
