Police carry out operation at Ilton (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Police carry out operation at Ilton

9:23am Wednesday 27th February 2008 in Ilminster By Steve Sowden

POLICE and partner agencies yesterday morning carried out a series of warrants at a travellers site in Ilton, near Ilminster.

Officers from Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and Wiltshire police were involved in the raids which began shortly after 6am at Chubbards Cross.

Staff from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the RSPCA were also involved in the operation.

Four males, aged 29, 23, 19 and 15 years were arrested from the site and taken into custody at Taunton Police Station.

The arrests relate to on going investigations into burglary and theft across the south west.

Following the warrants, a series of searches were carried out in and around the Chubbards Cross site.

Supt Mike Prior, who headed the operation, said: "A considerable number of staff have been involved in what is a targeted, intelligence led operation involving forces and other agencies from across the region.

"Four people remain were taken into custody and will do so while a large scale search of plots on the site and the site itself takes place, involving police and the other agencies.

"Many of the police and HMRC's enquiries are centring around vehicles on the site and the RSPCA has also removed a number of dogs."