Shropshire MP calls for for new strategy to beat rural crime
MP Mark Pritchard is calling on police to draw up a new strategy for tackling rural crime after a spike in the number of incidents recorded across the region.
The Wrekin MP has written to David Shaw, the Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, asking for action against "professional gangs" targeting farms and country areas..
He said: "Whilst overall crime has seen a sharp and welcome drop over the last four years, it is also clear that over the last few months rural crime has seen an increase.
"I have written to the Chief Constable asking for a more targeted police response to what appear to be professional gangs.
"Thieves have been targeting machinery, tools, fuel, and even livestock in some parts of Shropshire, which pushes up insurance premiums and can be devastating for farmers and rural families."
Mr Pritchard's calls follow last week's revelation that the cost of rural crime in Shropshire has rocketed by 45 per cent in the space of a year.
Quad bikes, tools, oil and diesel have been the favoured targets of thieves across the county, with livestock and tractors also being stolen, while burglars are breaking into houses in out-of-the-way corners of the countryside.
It means the cost of crime from September 2013 to August this year was more than £1 million, compared to the £690,000 in the same period the previous year.
Mr Pritchard's calls echoed those of Bill Longmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, who this week announced he was to spend £1.5 million a year until 2016 to help target rural crime.
He said: "Since being elected I have been concerned that not enough attention has been paid to rural crime. For the first time tackling rural crime is one of our priorities and I am pleased that we have been able to make this money available to be used in West Mercia and Warwickshire."
Nationally schemes have been introduced such as Farmwatch, a rural equivalent of Neighbourhood Watch. There are also a number of regional schemes such as Rural Watch and the introduction of Farm Liaison Officers, who have regular contact with members of the farming community.
Some farms have resorted to keeping louder and more aggressive animals like llamas and geese in with other livestock to combat countryside crime.
