Police reveal they have made seven arrests over stolen caravans in the lead up to the Appleby Horse Fair

As travellers and gypsies drive horses and carts through the streets ahead of the Appleby Horse Fair, police have made a number of arrests for stolen caravans.

The event, which starts today and ends on June 12, is an annual gathering of gypsies and travellers in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria. 

But in the days leading up to the massive fair, police have made at least seven arrests in connection with stolen motor vehicles being brought into the county. 

Gypsy and Traveller representatives have supported the police action, condemning accusations that it is 'heavy-handed harassment and persecution'.

They said: 'Anyone who knowingly brings stolen property to Appleby Fair deserves what they get. It is their own fault, and they will get no sympathy from us.'

The fair sees the town's main street used for showing horses set to be traded as the animals are tethered to railings outside pubs and shops - while visitors park their caravans on both sides of the A685. 

Last year's event caused fury among locals, who reported shoplifting, threats and even urine being squirted through car windows by members of the travelling community.

Photos from earlier today show gypsies and travellers arriving via horse and carriage in order to set up camp in time for the start of the festival today. 

Every pub in nearby Kirkby Stephen is shutting its doors this year in a bid to minimise the chaos, while railings along the high street have been covered with boards to prevent horses being tied up outside Appleby's popular shops. 

Over the weekend, officers made three arrests in relation to handling stolen goods in the Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh and Burrells areas in the lead up to the horse fair.

The three men aged in their 40s – two from the Kent area and one from Hartlepool - were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They were subsequently bailed with conditions including not to re-enter Cumbria.

On Saturday, police seized a further three caravans suspected of having been stolen outside of the county - a motorhome, a van and three trailers.

Cumbria Police officers arrested two men on May 25 as part of an operation targeting suspected stolen vehicles being brought into the county ahead of the fair.

Officers first recovered a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck in the Brough area which they suspected was stolen from Essex.

A 27-year-old man from the Kent area was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of an offensive weapon.

He has since been released on police bail with conditions not to re-enter Cumbria.

Officers then attended the Long Marton area where they recovered four caravans suspected of having been stolen. Three of the caravans are believed to belong to owners in the south of England, whilst the fourth is believed to belong to someone in Wales. Work is on-going to contact the owners.

As well as recovering the vehicles, a 38-year-old man from the Kent area was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. He remains in police custody. 

Meanwhile in the South Lakes area, police officers took action regarding an unauthorised encampment at a field in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Those on the field were given a direction to leave and moved on under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 powers.

A total of 13 caravans and vehicles were moved on as a result.

Superintendent Dan St Quintin, Gold Commander for Appleby Horse Fair, said: 'As we head towards the 2024 Appleby Horse Fair, officers are working to identify and take enforcement action against the minority who either come to the county intent on committing offences or come here after committing offences elsewhere. This will enable the vast majority of people coming to the Fair who are law-abiding to enjoy it.

'The enforcement action taken yesterday was significant but will by no means be the last. Where there is evidence of criminality, officers will be swift in making arrests and recovering property.'

On May 27 police seized a caravan in the Great Asby area, suspected of having been stolen in the Thames Valley area. A 33-year-old man was arrested but has since been released on police bail.

Officers also seized two transit vans – one suspected of being stolen and another suspected of having been used in a crime.

The action taken by the police and partners has been supported in a statement by Gypsy and Traveller representatives, Billy Welch and Bill Lloyd.

They said: 'Cumbria Police have used good intelligence, modern technology and pro-active policing to identify and recover a significant number of stolen caravans.

'Some people have been quick to claim on social media that these pro-active police actions are heavy-handed harassment and persecution. We disagree. The Gypsy and Traveller representatives disassociate themselves from those comments. That is not our opinion, and we fully support this police action.

'We know nothing about the people found in possession of the stolen caravans, but that does not matter. Whilst investigations are on-going, we understand that some of the people affected – who were not arrested - had purchased their caravans innocently, not knowing that they were stolen, and they were themselves victims.

'We believe that all law-abiding people who are the majority visitors to the Fair will have no complaint about this action, whether they are Romani Gypsies, 'weekend Gypsies', or horse lovers, adventurous holiday makers, or day visitors from the settled community.

'However, anyone who knowingly brings stolen property to Appleby Fair deserves what they get. It is their own fault, and they will get no sympathy from us.

'Appleby Fair is a horse fair, and an ancient event with great cultural significance. It attracts all sorts of people, the majority of whom are not Gypsies. The priority of the Gypsy and Traveller representatives is to preserve the reputation of the Fair so that it can continue for our children and grandchildren and future generations.

'We have never tried to defend or condone criminality of any description and we never will, which is why we congratulate the Police on their good intelligence and the smooth and efficient recovery operations.'

Appleby Fair attracts around 10,000 gypsies and travellers, while more than 30,000 other visitors also attend the event. 

At the beginning of May, farmer Mark Scott was surrounded by travellers who circled around his JCB as he tried to seal off a country lane with boulders to make it impossible for them to settle there.

Mark was subjected to insults and intimidation, with one traveller yelling, 'Kirkby Stephen is on fire, lads'. 

Near the end of last month, travellers who had camped illegally on a field en route to the fair were moved on while four stolen caravans were seized by police. 

Trading Standards officers warned Appleby Horse Fair traders to ensure their goods are genuine and safe this year after they found some evidence of counterfeit goods last time. 

The Appleby Horse Fair has been a mainstay of the Gypsy calendar since the early 20th century - and its roots can be traced even further back.

But according to local historian Andrew Connell, it does not have its origins in a 1685 charter issued by King James II, as some have claimed.

In his book, Appleby Gypsy Horse Fair: Mythology, Origins, Evolution and Evaluation, Mr Connell reveals how the story of the 1685 charter dates from 1945, when two Appleby councillors who disliked the fair tried to stop it.

'There's no evidence for it, the claim first surfaced in 1945,' Mr Connell told MailOnline.

The fair actually began in 1775, but did not come to be primarily associated with the traveller community until more than a century later.

'It was a trading occasion for droved cattle and sheep, and of course horses. There's not much evidence of gypsy association with it,' Mr Connell said.