My team and I went to Lubenham to deliver our leaflet on improving Rural Policing in Leicestershire and Rutland. While there we learned that although the village is a low crime area, vehicle crime is a bit of a problem.
Thefts of motor vehicles, and from motor vehicles, is on the rise. In part this is driven by changes in criminal technology – for instance it has become easier to copy and clone electronic key fobs – but more sophisticated organisation by a small number of gangs is also a factor.
If elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, I will :
- Lobby manufacturers to improve the security of the vehicles they make;
- Target and disrupt car boot sales and other venues where power tools stolen from vehicles are sold;
- Contact owners of vulnerable vehicles to give crime prevention advice;
- Encourage Neighbourhood Policing units to gather, analyse and use data on emerging crime patterns;
- Put more police on patrol in high risk areas to target and disrupt gangs.
But this needs to be part of 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
