OFFICERS from Devon and Cornwall Police’s Rural Affairs Team have been out in force across the county throughout a national week of action and awareness on rural crime. 

In Teignbridge, anti-poaching and hare coursing patrols have been stepped up. 

The National Rural Crime Week of Action is an annual week in which officers take part in a number of targeted operations and high-visibility patrols, aimed at disrupting and preventing criminal activity and bringing offenders to justice.

The Rural Affairs Team spent the week undertaking a variety of  other activities including patrolling rural areas prone to anti-social behaviour, engaging with farmers and the general public to prevent livestock worrying, providing bespoke rural crime prevention advice, carrying out stop-checks on vehicles with trailers to check for stolen trailers, equipment and machinery and raising awareness of heritage crime at popular heritage sites.

The force also went out to support Operation Walrus, an initiative led by the National Rural Crime Unit to drive down theft of agricultural GPS and Precision Agricultural Systems (PAS) devices, which is rapidly increasing across the UK and Europe.

PC Julian Fry of the Rural Affairs Team said: ‘Rural crime is something we tackle consistently throughout the year and I am incredibly proud of the work the team have done and will continue to do to support our rural communities.

‘We know that crimes can have a devastating impact on victims, particularly in rural areas where the thefts are often of machinery or vehicles that play a vital part in people’s livelihoods.

‘The Rural Affairs Team and colleagues in the wider policing family are committed to keeping our rural communities safe and will continue to work closely with our partners to support people living in, working in and visiting rural areas of Devon and Cornwall. I hope this week of action is reassuring our communities that we are listening to them, and that action is being taken.

‘As always, we need the support of our rural communities and encourage people living and working in rural areas to be vigilant and report any crimes or intelligence to us.’