— Keeping our rural communities safe —
By working with rural communities – and investing in our Rural Crime Action Team and Countryside Watch.
Part five of Darryl Preston’s six-point plan to continue #WeCutCrime in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Keeping our rural communities safe
There is a perception by some that rural crime is not a priority – that it is about people trespassing on farmers’ land and letting dogs chase hares.
This is simply not the case – and that is why I promised to make tackling rural crime a priority when I was elected as your PCC in May 2021.
And I have done just that – overall rural crime is now down by 21%* with the Constabulary reporting a massive 73% drop in hare coursing since pre-Covid times.
Rural Crime Action Team bolstered
The Chief Constable bolstered the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) and I have significantly invested in Countryside Watch. In addition, along with our MPs, I lobbied for tougher laws in relation to hare coursing.
This resulted in new legislation enabling the police to prosecute more offenders, confiscate their dogs and provide for tougher sentences – making Cambridgeshire and Peterborough hostile to these criminals.
Rural crime cost the UK £49.5m in 2022/23, with organised criminals using sophisticated methods to steal high value agricultural equipment, livestock and other property, including GPS thefts.*
Unfortunately, given that most of our county is rural with a significant agricultural heritage, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is not immune with an estimated cost of around £2m+ to our farming communities.
The £2m+ in Cambridgeshire is just the value of the equipment and livestock stolen – it doesn’t take into account the huge cost of damage to crops, fences and buildings.
The real cost is incalculable
If you add the massive amount of time wasted and all the extra costs involved in reporting, replacing, fixing and preventing, the real figure surrounding this criminal activity runs into many, many millions of pounds.
And then there’s the worry, too.
Crime, and the fear of crime, deeply impacts our rural communities where many people – farmers in particular – are more remote and can feel less safe knowing that help may not be close at hand.
Serious threats by criminals and actual bodily harm to those defending their property and livelihoods has also been all too common.
More than just the terrible slaughter of hares
Though massively reduced, hare coursing continues to be a problem in our county.
The criminals responsible can be highly intimidating and aggressive: large amounts of illicit cash changes hands during an ‘event’ and they care nothing for damaging crops and property, and will drive like maniacs to avoid being caught.
Illegal encampments are another concern many residents have raised with me, impacting both our rural and urban communities.
Fly-tipping – another menace
Fly tipping, although dealt with by your district council, is another criminal activity, which disproportionately affects the countryside.
That is why I have worked with our local councils, investing in mobile CCTV and other preventative projects, along with supporting land owners impacted by this crime with ‘clear up’ costs.
If you witness any of these activities taking place, you should always call the police on 999 and report it as a crime in progress.
Here to represent all who abide by the law
If re-elected, I will continue to support and represent all our residents, including law-abiding members of the travelling community.
But I will not support those who cause disruption to our settled communities and break the law. I will hold the police to account for using new powers introduced by parliament to keep all our residents safe and prevent crime.
I know many farmers and residents in our rural communities are mostly pragmatic and understanding the police cannot be everywhere.
But, they should expect a swift and robust police response when problems occur, along with a visible presence in our rural communities to deter crime from happening in the first place.
If re-elected I will:
1. Continue to make resources available to the Chief Constable to support the Rural Crime Action Team.
2. Continue to invest in Cambridgeshire Countryside Watch ensuring even more crime prevention.
3. Continue to work with the National Rural Crime Network and National Farmers Union on plans to reduce crimes such as GPS thefts.
4. Explore the use of technology to reach smaller communities quicker and ensure the Chief Constable deploys the resources where and when they are needed.
5. Continue to invest in our community safety partnerships, tackling local issues such as fly tipping.
6. Continue to engage with and hold regular meetings with our farming communities.
* Sources
Delivery of the Police and Crime Plan – report, 13th March 2024.
Darryl Preston is the Conservative candidate in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner election on 2nd May 2024. There's more about Darryl on the About Darryl Preston page.