New
Year Focus on Combating Rural Crime
Landowners,
farmers and businesses across Devon and Cornwall will be joining forces with
the police early in the New Year to host two major events aimed at combating
rural crime.
The
events, titled ‘Preventing Crime in Rural Communities' take place in February
and bring together representatives of the Country Land and Business
Association, the National Farmers’ Union and the Devon and Cornwall Police
along with experts from private security firms, the insurance industry and
specialist equipment suppliers who will all be looking at the ways and means of
preventing crime in rural communities.
Rural
crime costs millions of pounds a year; it impacts on police resources and on
insurance premiums – which makes reducing rural crime a key policy area for
both police and representative organisations.
The
events, which are sponsored by regional law firm, Foot Anstey and the NFU
Mutual Insurance Society, will take place at Westpoint, Exeter on 1 February
and at the Pavilion at the Royal Cornwall Show ground, Wadebridge, on 15
February. Both events are free of charge and offer a one-stop- shop style
advisory service as well as an exhibition and trade stands, all focused on
crime prevention. 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.
One
focus of the day will be to look at whether individuals and businesses are
doing all they can to reduce opportunities for criminals.
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.”
CLA
South West Director, John Mortimer will introduce a keynote speech from
Assistant Chief Constable, Paul Netherton - who will talk about the reality of
rural policing and the options for the future – and from NFU Vice President,
Adam Quinney. A representative of the NFU Mutual Insurance Society will speak
about the impact of rural crime on the insurance industry.
Mr
Mortimer said: “We welcome this opportunity of working with the NFU and Devon
and Cornwall police to highlight the growing menace of rural crime – and to
explore ways of combating it.
“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.
“These events aim to improve awareness of the
opportunities to reduce crime and to help the police engage with CLA and NFU
members - and the wider rural
Community - in a drive to improve
communications and deliver a service that meets expectations,” he said.
A full programme for each event can be
downloaded from :
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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