The UK’s first national livestock theft officer has launched a new initiative to tackle livestock theft.
Funding provided by the UK’s leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has enabled the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to recruit Martin Beck, who has 30 years of policing experience in the field, as its first UK-wide livestock theft prevention officer.
On Saturday 17 June Devon & Cornwall Police revealed the winner of its ‘Name Our Tractor’ competition at Woofstock Festival.
Over 500 entries were received from children aged 12 or under, but there could only be one winner. The winning name was suggested by four-year-old Reuben Mudge who came up with the name ‘Optimus Crime’.
Devon & Cornwall Police have revealed the newest, and slightly different, member of the South Devon Rural team, a John Deere 6110M tractor decked out in distinctive police livery.
The tractor has been loaned to the team at Devon & Cornwall Police free of charge until the end of September by local agricultural and turf dealership Masons Kings and will be soon seen across the...
The charity Crimestoppers has launched an appeal for anonymous information to help protect hard-pressed rural communities across the West Country. It calls on everyone to play their part in stopping rural crime as more of us are visiting the countryside during the pandemic.
Criminal gangs exploit local wildlife, environment and communities in many ways: rural residents often feel...
The South West NFU is calling for police forces to devote more resources to combatting rural crime, after a survey revealed that almost 20% of members who responded had difficulty reporting a crime and that when they did, insufficient action was taken.
The crime survey was completed by 200 members and showed that fly-tipping, trespass, poaching and theft are the four commonest offences...
Rural crime cost the South West £6.1m in 2015, up from £5.9m in 2014 – despite remaining broadly static at a national level. The figures form part of NFU Mutual’s annual Rural Crime Report, published on 1 August, revealing that the cost of rural crime to the UK economy has now reached £42.5 million a year.
According to the leading rural insurer, the items most commonly targeted by...
Rural crime cost Devon & Cornwall £750,000 in 2014, down from £1.1 million in 2013. Despite the fall, 2014 saw thieves continue to target expensive all terrain vehicles (ATVs) as well as tools.
The figures are part of a UK-wide survey by NFU Mutual. The leading rural insurer’s annual Rural Crime Survey shows the nationwide cost of rural crime totalled an estimated £37.8 million in...
The largest ever survey into crime and anti-social Behaviour (ASB) in rural areas has been launched in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to find out how the police can better serve rural communities. The survey, launched by the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN), is calling for people who work or live in rural areas to come forward and give their views on policing in their community, the...
Devon and Cornwall Police is teaming up with partner agencies to tackle crime across Dartmoor throughout the summer.
Local officers will be running Moorwatch, a multi-agency operation which aims to prevent and disrupt criminals operating in isolated rural areas, particularly at car park and beauty spots surrounding the national park.
A new National Rural Crime Network, endorsed by 18 of the UK’s Police and Crime Commissioners, including Devon and Cornwall’s Tony Hogg, has been set-up to help tackle rural crime more effectively in England and Wales.
A further eight Commissioners are considering joining the group which could bring the total to around two thirds of PCCs across the two countries.
