DAY 88: See it? Report it - Don’t wait!

Thames Valley Police has launched a campaign to encourage people in rural communities to report suspicious incidents to police immediately.

 ‘See it? Report it - Don’t wait!’ is the message from Andrew Dunn, the newly-appointed Community and Rural Crime Information Manager of the Force Intelligence Bureau.

 Andrew said: “Gathering intelligence and information is a vital part of investigating crime and it can’t be done without you. It is this intelligence which will allow us to find, prosecute and convict the people who are committing the crimes which are affecting your community the most.

“It’s also extremely important to report anything you might find unusual or suspicious, however unimportant it may seem at the time, as soon as you see it. Please don’t wait to make the call.”

It is now even easier for people to tell police about suspicious circumstances, as they can now email the rural crime desk inbox directly, as well as calling the 101 number. If you have information or intelligence you would like to share with Thames Valley Police, no matter how big or small, please either email FIBruralcrime@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or call the 24 hour, non-emergency number 101. If you believe it is a crime in progress, please always dial 999.

Those who live and work in rural and farming communities are encouraged to tell the police as soon as they see anything out of the ordinary.

The information, no matter how trivial it seems, could be vital in helping police to prevent rural crime and catch perpetrators whose offences can have a massive impact on rural communities.

If you notice something that you think is not quite right, or anything that you might mention to a neighbour – mention it to the police.

Andrew added: “We are aiming to continue building links between communities so that Thames Valley Police can get an overall intelligence picture surrounding rural crime.”

DAY 87: New Rural Crime Information Manager

The Thames Valley Police Force Intelligence Bureau now has a newly appointed Community and Rural Crime Information Manager. The role has been filled by Andy Dunn from FIB.

Currently, Andy is working with Corporate Communications on a project to encourage those working and living in rural and farming communities to report suspicious circumstances to police as quickly as possible.

As well as reporting suspicious incidents via the 101 number, members of the public can also report information and intelligence directly to FIB via the rural crime desk email inbox: FIBruralcrime@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

DAY 86: Op Festive tackles cross border crime

As part of a joint operation to tackle rural crime, the West Berkshire neighbourhood policing team has been working in partnership with officers from Hampshire Constabulary.

Operation Festive was first set up in January 2012 as a joint operation between police in West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire as well as landowners, farmers and gamekeepers. 

Towards the end of March, officers from the West Berkshire local policing team and Hampshire Constabulary carried out an operation, mainly along the two areas’ border. Approximately 30 local gamekeepers and farmers acted as spotters reporting any suspicious incidents to the police.

Insp Malcolm Whitaker, from Thames Valley Police, said: “This was the first of what we would like to become a series of significant joint operations between the two neighbouring police forces to target criminality and help reduce rural crime in both areas. 

“We would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to help with the operation. It was a quiet evening and we appear to have successfully suppressed any criminal activity as there was virtually no overnight rural crime reported.”

Insp Tim Boennic, from Hampshire Constabulary, said: "Tackling the issues surrounding rural crime is a priority for us. We know the criminals responsible for this activity pay no attention to county borders and our approach to policing is the same.

“We hope this is just the first of many joint operations as part of our commitment to making Hampshire a hostile place for criminals."

During the evening a substantial number of stop checks were completed on vehicles and persons. The checks provided useful intelligence for the force, whilst the feedback from the spotters was very positive. Officers also conducted an area search after a report of a shed break in the Calcot area, but no trace was found of the offenders.

DAY 85: Podcast released about hare and deer coursing, Aylesbury Vale

The Aylesbury Vale local policing team would like to raise awareness of deer and hare coursing. These offences are not only considered to be a form of cruelty inflicted on animals but raise concerns and health risks in relation to food hygiene preparation when animals are used for human consumption.

Some individuals and groups within our communities are particularly drawn to the pursuit of deer using firearms and dogs, the process of tackling the issue is, at best, extremely challenging. The police rely on people in the countryside to report the finding of any deer remains no matter how insignificant itmay seem. If it can be determined where poaching is happening and to what extent, the chances increase of catching those responsible.
 

PC Dean Kingham,  local wildlife crime officer, said: “This type of wildlife crime is difficult to combat and I would urge the members of the public to contact us immediately via 101, if you see anything suspicious. This could include vans or vehicles parked in lay-bys and/ or numerous dogs being walked across the middle of the fields. If it is safe to do so, make a note of vehicle details and descriptions of the people involved."

Listen to our podcast: http://bit.ly/1dlDsgm (opens new window) to find out more about why hare coursing and poaching is a problem for rural communities and what to look out for.

If you have information or intelligence you would like to share with Thames Valley Police, no matter how big or small, please either email FIBruralcrime@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or call the 24 hour, non-emergency number 101. If you believe it is a crime in progress, please always dial 999.

DAY 84: Attempted theft of horses, Binfield

Police are asking residents in rural communities to make sure their horses are secure after the attempted theft of two horses in Binfield Bracknell, on Monday 3 March.

Offenders have cut through electric fencing at the property in Carter Hill Road, and removed a battery and a fence unit from the scene. They then led away two horses through the woods, and were attempting to load them into a lorry parked in a lay-by on Church Lane, by the rear entrance to a property called The Priory.

The offenders were struggling with the horses and members of the public stopped and the thieves fled empty handed, leaving the horses behind who in turn were left unaccompanied on the road.

If you have any information about the crime which may help officers with their enquiry, call 101.

In this case, the horses were still removed despite being behind an electric fence. Is your security adequate? Visit our Country Watch site for crime reduction advice

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.