DAY 83: Digging ditches on land boundaries is the favoured crime prevention measure to warn off poachers in Oxfordshire

According to farmers and landowners across the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire, the most successful deterrent to hare coursing and poaching activity has been digging ditches on the boundaries of the fields favoured by poachers and hare coursers.

Field and land in the Ewelme Wallingford area has suffered repeated, extensive damage to crops as a result of being driven over by 4x4 vehicles overnight. Landowners and gamekeepers suspect this is related to people poaching deer.

Landowners have prevented poaches from gaining further access by blocking off gaps in hedges where signs of access can be seen.

If you have had similar problems, the Thames Valley Police farm security survey can be found on the website.

The security assessment has been put together by our crime prevention and reduction advisors and it contains low cost, practical advice around securing land and property.

Download our farm security assessment

If you see any suspicious activity or suspect poaching or hare coursing is happening on your land, report it via the 24 hour non emergency number 101 as soon as you see anything.

If you have information or intelligence you would like to share with Thames Valley Police, no matter how big or small, you can also email our rural crime intelligence desk at FIBruralcrime@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

DAY 77: Police to hold rural crime prevention forum at South Bucks District Council offices

Thames Valley Police will be holding a rural crime and crime prevention forum in the South Buckinghamshire District Council offices on Thursday 27 February 2014.

This is a meeting for farmers, landowners, gamekeepers, horse and other animal keepers and anyone else who may be interested, to meet with Thames Valley Police and their partners.

Attending on behalf of Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld will be the Deputy PCC, Mr David Carroll.

If you are concerned about rural crime or want to share your views about what is being done to tackle rural crime, please come along and encourage others to do so.

The forum will begin at 6.30pm at Capswood, South Bucks District Council offices, Oxford Road, Denham UB9 4LH.

Currently on the agenda:

• Welcome, coffee and introduction by Superintendent Steve Hockin
• Discussion about impact of crime and criminal activity currently being felt by the local rural communities
• Discussion of successes and/or failure of recent Thames Valley Police initiatives designed to improve the prevention and detection of crime in rural areas and suggestions for further improvements and new initiatives.
• Discussion on further ways to improve communication, co-ordination and understanding between Thames Valley Police and members of the rural community.

Further Information can be obtained by contacting:

PS Lucy Seabright, email: lucy.seabright@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk  or phone: 07800 703335

Robert Dunleavy, email: robertdunleavy@nfumutual.co.uk or phone: 01628 477311                         

DAY 74: Windsor and Maidenhead recover stolen vehicle linked to four burglary offences.

Yesterday (6/2) officers found and seized an abandoned stolen vehicle in an area of woodland. The vehicle is believed to be linked to four burglary non-dwelling offences where tools and other items were stolen. Two of these burglary offences happened in Surrey and two within the Thames Valley area.

Investigating officers continue to make enquires.

Elsewhere in Windsor, officers set up a Country Watch stand at the Windsor Farm Shop and held a crime prevention event at Windsor Great Park. Approximately 30 people attended and were given various presentations about crime prevention.

Country Watch came to Windsor Farm Shop

Crime prevention presentation at Windsor Great Park

Farmers and landowners are now able to self-asses security on their land using the farm security assessment which can be downloaded from the Thames Valley Police website.

The farm security assessment has been put together by Thames Valley Police’s crime prevention and reduction advisors and contains advice on low cost security solutions in a common sense approach.

In the assessment you will find crime prevention advice about:

•  Controlling access to farms
• Tools
• Metal theft
• Agricultural machinery protection
• Field security
• Livestock
• Wildlife crime
• Out buildings
• Home security

Day 65: Cottesloe School students continue to patrol with officers and spot potential crime risks

Yesterday (21/1) the Aylesbury Vale PCSOs were out hosting ‘have your say’ meetings at a number of locations.

The Waddesdon and Haddenham PCSOs went to various toddler groups and coffee mornings in Ickford and Worminghall which have been targeted for theft from vehicle offences recently. 

PCSOs in Wendover were highly visible on Manor Waste in the centre of the village

Buckingham PCSOs were at George Browns Ltd, horticultural machinery suppliers

Wing PCSOs signed up 72 people to Thames Valley Alert from various places along the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire borders.

Following on from Monday, students from Cottesloe School went out and about with local police officers to do some rural crime surveys in Stoke Hammond and Edlesborough. They spotted a potential crime target in the form of an unattended van with the back doors open, iPad left in view on the front seat and keys in the ignition!

Target for opportunist thieves!

A proactive operation began in the evening with ANPR over at Wing and then spread over to Buckingham later in the evening.  

Patrols took place where the Great Train Robbery happened over 50 years ago