Police form special rural crime team
UNIT SET UP TO COUNTER RISING NUMBER OF OFFENCES
FLY-TIPPING, poaching and other countryside crimes are to be tackled by a dedicated team of special constables.
The team will work with rural communities across Leicestershire and Rutland, tackling anything from fox hunting and hare coursing to theft.
Like all special constables, the Rural Specials Team will have full policing powers and uniforms and will work alongside the regular force.
Police and crime commissioner Lord (Willy) Bach said: “The efforts that are being made to tackle crime in rural areas illustrate just how seriously the force and I take the issues faced by those living in rural communities.
“Rural crime often presents a different set of challenges, but it is still very much crime and I know the force is determined to crack down on it.
“That’s why I particularly welcome the introduction of the dedicated rural special constables.
“Special constables bring a unique and broad range of skills and experiences to our policing family and I’m quite sure this team will make a significant difference.”
The team will be led by Special Sergeant Leigh Moore, who works to support farmers in his full-time job with the National Farmers Union.
Leigh said: “Rural crime is on the increase nationally, with emerging trends occurring all the time.
“Having a team of like-minded individuals to support our regular colleagues allows us to be in more places more of the time, and that can only be a great thing.”
Special Constable Ellis HarrisBoulter joined the team because he lives in a village and has seen the effects rural crime can have.
He said: “I’ve spoken with farmers and locals about the impact, whether it’s due to haystack fires, hare coursing or other rural offences, and in every case it’s had a massive effect on their way of life.”
Ellis has spent the past three years policing in the city but said he felt confident dedicating his time to rural communities. He said: “The regular officers dedicated to policing rural crime work incredibly hard and have the colossal task of policing a very large rural area.
“So I have no doubt the additional special crews out and about will enable us to provide even faster support to important issues that affect those living in the countryside most.”