Campaign to crack down on countryside crime

9:00am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Scott D'Arcy

NORTH Sector neighbourhood policing officers are cracking down on rural crime by running an awareness campaign.

The campaign will see neighbourhood police officers giving out advice across the rural areas north of Swindon until Sunday, and also aims to raise awareness of Wiltshire Police’s Horse Watch and Farm Watch schemes.

Community beat manager PC Marc Jackson said: “The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of current crime trends impacting on rural communities and to identify ways for reducing the opportunities for criminals.

“The campaign will highlight security issues relating to farm machinery, diesel, batteries, underground cables, scrap metal, livestock, wildlife and tools.”

In the latest Farmwatch newsletter for last month there were 79 rural crimes recorded in the county in August, of which 48 offences were on farms. There were 17 metal thefts reported, with electric fence batteries reportedly being the main items stolen.

And on Sunday, September 2 at some point after 6.30pm, thieves made off with three horse rugs from a stable in Day House Lane, including a 6ft 6in light blue top and dark blue or grey bottom, believed to be a Weatherbeeta.

Events will be in held in the following locations across the week:

  • Thursday, September 13: Drop-in session at Cirencester livestock market between 10am to 1pm
  • Friday, September 14: Visit with Swindon Borough Council angling department to fishing locations in Swindon
  • Sunday, September 16: Information point and bike marking at The Gateway Centre, Cotswold Water Park, Ashton Keynes between 10am to 1pm

    Farm Watch schemes encourage everyone in the farming community to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious to the police.

Horse Watch provides members with crime prevention advice, regular updates and local alerts via text message or email of suspicious activity. It is countywide and aims to reduce the number of equine thefts around stables and riding schools.

Anyone with concerns or information on rural crime should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or use Crimestoppers to report crimes anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Comments(8)

The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man says...
9:47am Wed 12 Sep 12

Rural areas of North Swindon? Don't worry, they'll all be built on soon enough, so there won't be any rural area crime to worry about - that'll be a huge reduction in the statistics!

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Ringer says...
10:07am Wed 12 Sep 12

We pay vast amounts of tax to supposedly be protected from crime and criminals by the police and the courts.

Sadly, although the police do a good job, it all falls down when criminals get to court and are routinely enabled and encouraged to commit more crime by unduly lenient sentencing.

Until this problem is resolved, crime will continue to be committed by criminals who know they have nothing to fear from the courts.

Anyone living in a rural area is now responsible for their own safety. People taking the law into their own hands is entirely the result of our courts' refusal to correctly sentence criminals and make reoffending more difficult for them.

The Criminal Justice System now works solely for the benefit and support of criminals. We are on our own.

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RichardR1 says...
11:45am Wed 12 Sep 12

At least it now seems a pragmatic approach is being taken, if whilst defending your property you should injure the burglar, and about time to.

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LordAshOfTheBrake says...
12:54pm Wed 12 Sep 12

@Ringer,

Personally I'm not so sure the police do a good job; however I absolutely agree with you that the bigger picture of the criminal justice system is broken.

Every week there are stories about criminals being given suspended sentences whilst already on a suspended sentence; criminals with a long history of theft and other crimes being let off with a few hours of community service and so on.

Time that punishment meant punishment and not a bit of inconvenience to them.

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Mike Ehrmantraut says...
1:02pm Wed 12 Sep 12

@LordAshOfTheBrake: given the massive percentage of criminals who never complete, or even commence, their community sentences, I don't really think it even rates as an inconvenience to many of them.

Given that judges know better than anyone what the repeat crime statistics are in this country, and given that they sit in front of the same criminals time after time after time, it's bemusing how they seem to automatically accept defence lawyer claims that their clients have changed their ways.

As you point out, we are now seeing a consistent policy of judges issuing suspended sentences to repeat criminals that are still under suspended sentences issued by the same judges... and yet still the judges excuse them and find any way they can to avoid sending repeat criminals to prison.

Either these people start abiding by their own sentencing guidelines or we may as well replace them (as they are VERY expensive) with people who are able to read the guidelines and implement them properly.

Chris Grayling really has his work cut out, the judiciary have had their chance and we've all paid the price, very heavily. Their ultra-lenient approach very obviously has not worked. This comes as no surprise to anyone but them, it would seem.

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Mike Ehrmantraut says...
1:06pm Wed 12 Sep 12

@RichardR1: don't be quite so sure. Despite assurances otherwise, the weak coalition government has still not provided law abiding members of the public with the true legal rights to protect themselves from criminals.

@Ringer: I agree with much of your post, but would disagree regarding the police. Surely any police force worth its salt would be lobbying the government to make changes to the way the current judiciary operates and is appointed?

The police are always far too quick to side with criminals, leave 'hard targets' to continue their crimes whilst picking on the 'soft targets' and members of the law abiding public that they know still fear them, because the criminals certainly don't!

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1 2 Could B says...
1:56pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Ringer says...
10:07am Wed 12 Sep 12

We pay vast amounts of tax to supposedly be protected from crime and criminals by the police and the courts.

Sadly, although the police do a good job, it all falls down when criminals get to court and are routinely enabled and encouraged to commit more crime by unduly lenient sentencing.

Is this the fault of
13 years of Labour Blah Blah Blah...?

Report this post »

Ringer says...
2:09pm Wed 12 Sep 12

1 2 Could B wrote:
Ringer says... 10:07am Wed 12 Sep 12 We pay vast amounts of tax to supposedly be protected from crime and criminals by the police and the courts. Sadly, although the police do a good job, it all falls down when criminals get to court and are routinely enabled and encouraged to commit more crime by unduly lenient sentencing. Is this the fault of 13 years of Labour Blah Blah Blah...?
Nutter.

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