My team and I went to Bottesford, where I got married, to deliver our leaflet on improving Rural Policing in Leicestershire and Rutland. While there I stopped off at the school to talk about how closer liaison between the police and schools can help to build positive community policing.
Children and teenagers are among the most vulnerable in society. They may fall victim to accidents through inexperience, or be preyed upon by criminals, sexual predators and others of evil intent.
I want to see that police:
- Ensure that each school has a designated police officer to build positive relationships between the police and youngsters;
- Ensure that each school is visited regularly so that police can engage with the pupils on road safety and other safeguarding issues;
- Investigate introducing a Mini Police scheme to junior schools;
A place like Bottesford needs to see a wider strategy to deal with Rural Crime. I want to see more police in our rural areas. I want to see high visibility policing in our rural areas. And I want our police to communicate frequently with the law abiding public. I think we should have:
- A Rural Crime Co-Ordinator who will bring together all the agencies who can help prevent crime in rural areas, and tackle it when it does happen;
- Rural Crime Packs available to residents and business to help them protect themselves and ease the fear of crime;
- A Rural Crimestoppers system to provide a quick, confidential channel that people can use to pass on information about crime and criminals.
- An online Rural Crime Hub a one stop shop for farmers and other rural businesses giving advice on crime prevention, how to report crime, who to call and two-way communication with police;
- Regular public meetings with the Police and Crime Commissioner and police officers;
- Effective support for Rural Neighbourhood Watch Schemes;
- A wide-ranging and properly supported Volunteers on Horseback scheme;
- Support for new legislation to make trespass a criminal offence.
Those are my ideas on what we can do to tackle crime in rural areas, but I'm always looking for the views of people who live in our countryside.
Please remember to take my Rural Crime Survey, which you can find here: https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/campaigns/rural-policing-campaign
