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, September 2 to Thursday, September 4 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.

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.