Police launch new scheme to tackle rural crime

Police in Cornwall are launching a new scheme to tackle rural crime. They are working with landowners, farmers and businesses across the county to improve crime prevention. Events will be held in February where people can get advice from a range of organisations on how to reduce the risk of rural crime.

The events will bring together representatives of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the Devon and Cornwall Police along with experts from private security firms and specialist equipment suppliers who will all be looking at the ways and means of preventing crime in rural communities.

Bob Bunney, crime reduction advisor with Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "We are very keen to help people understand how to take control of the situation, to learn exactly how much they can do themselves to help reduce rural crime and then to offer clear information about how to act and who to contact."

Seminars will operate on a drop-in basis with sessions throughout the day examining different aspects of the law and the whole range of rural crime from farm and estate security to wildlife and equestrian crime.

CLA South West director, John Mortimer, said: "What is frequently not understood is that the true cost of farm theft and other rural crime is more than simply the value of the items taken. There is the cost of lost production time, of repairing the damage caused plus the risk of livestock straying due to gates being left open or fencing taken down."

The events will be held at the Royal Cornwall Showground on February 15 and at Westpoint, Exeter on February 1.

To reserve a place at either of the events, contact the CLA South West Office on 01249 700281 or online at www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents

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