The fight against organised crime gangs is about to step up this National Rural Crime Action Week.
National Rural Crime Action Week runs from 8th-12th September and highlights the importance of the police, local authorities and rural communities working in partnership to combat rural crime.
Tackling the issue is one of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s top priorities.
The theft of livestock and agricultural machinery, hare coursing, black market gambling, poaching and fly-tipping have a devastating impact on farmers and landowners.
PCC Donna Jones said:
“These criminal gangs pose an immediate and growing threat.
“They subject farmers and landowners to unacceptable levels of violence and intimidation. The gangs perform meticulous supply and demand operations; stealing items like quad bikes or plant machinery to order and shipping them overseas.
“These criminals are serious and organised, and many are also involved in the supply and sale of drugs – often on a large and global scale.
Article continues below this advertisement “Farmers and communities, many of whom are already struggling with isolation, have had enough of being targeted. They deserve to feel safe and protected which is why, in June this year, I launched the Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force.”
Since its set up, the Task Force has successfully recovered between £160-170k worth of stolen goods.
Task Force Inspector, Cath MacDonald, said:
“Officers are routinely supporting colleagues in other teams both over the county borders and locally, such as neighbourhoods, response, firearms and roads policing, to proactively disrupt criminals as well as respond to ongoing crimes.
“The team has been visiting sites of interest and recently conducted a warrant at one such site in Odiham where tens of thousands of pounds of suspected stolen goods were seized.
“Four arrests were made as part of that investigation alone.
“On top of this they are out patrolling all over the county, stopping vehicles and making arrests.
“All of this hard work will continue – not only during this week of action but all year round.”
According NFU Mutual, rural crime cost the UK £44.1M in 2024. That’s a 16.5% decrease year-on-year but there’s always work to be done.
“The Police and Crime Commissioner’s top priority” is getting herself elected Mayor..
If they stop speeding motorists on the island,
the commissioner gets my vote for mayor.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if someone in Government woke up to realise that there isn’t any need for a Police & Crime Commissioner, or their assistant. Furthermore, what is the purpose of a Mayor?
As a nipper, I remember seeing the Mayor of Newport in St. James Square, wearing a cape, a hat, and while ringing a bell, shouting, “Oh yeh, oh yeh” announcing news.
Nowadays, those appointed to these new ‘Mayor’ roles are paid ridiculous amounts of money, which allows them to overturn decisions made by Police Chiefs. Sadiq Karn comes to mind…
Donna Jones is currently paid £88,600. You could get three new coppers on the beat for that: £28,500. Currently, the Mayor of London gets paid £152,734 annually.
Our current Government and quango sidekicks are pointless. Many have not seen a hard day’s work and don’t know what it is like living from paycheque to paycheque.
On the Island, it is noticeable of late that there are many driving around pissed, or smacked up on lines of stuff. There is no deterrent, as it appears many walk away with a small fine. I’d like to see long custodial sentences for those found guilty. A wake-up call for those who think it’s acceptable that they can go around driving a motor vehicle or farm machinery while stoned, pissed, or lined up.
I guess rural crime is going to be very low until the 13th then
Now they’ve been told the police will be out looking this week they will be staying in watching the telly instead this week resting up
Look out in the towns this week, you have been warned. So have the criminals!