A driver arrested on Exmoor for failing to stop for police was found with stolen goods and tested positive for drug-driving.

The arrest took place during a joint police operation to tackle cross-border crime and tackle concerns over drink-driving, theft of farm machinery and deer poaching.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police joined colleagues from Avon and Somerset for the campaign called Operation Landlike.

A spokesperson said: "On Thursday (14 Feb) officers arrested a driver for failing to stop, he was later found with suspected stolen goods and also tested positive for impaired drug driving. He was released under investigation, pending further enquiries. Other drivers were spoken to during the operation.

"This is part of a wider police initiative with colleagues from Avon and Somerset Police and Crimestoppers to address community concerns around drink and drug driving, as well as rural offences such as thefts of agricultural machinery and deer poaching.

"Previously officers have conducted visits to several licensed premises around the area and carried out a number of actions and enforcements including breath tests on motorists, drug driving, no tax on a vehicle, vehicles seized and drivers given words of advice."

The Exmoor operation was supported by officers from the Devon & Cornwall Roads Policing Unit and Armed Response Vehicles, as well as officers from Avon & Somerset Police.

A Devon & Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership van joined police for the operation and detected 36 speeding offences on the A39 in one day.

Supt Toby Davies, head of the North and West Devon Local Policing Area, said: “This operation centres around rural road focused policing and we are listening to community concerns and taking action accordingly.

“This initiative aims to tackle the rise in reported drink and drug driving cases nationally, with a particular focus across Exmoor and surrounding rural areas in a pro-active attempt to improve road safety and ultimately reduce road casualties and collisions.

“Importantly, we are also looking to arrest travelling criminals who target rural properties and businesses. We've had a number of local businesses broken into in our rural villages and we are working hard to bring these offenders to justice.”