Outcry as 258 officers are left to tackle rural crimewave

JUST 258 police officers or 0.1% are dedicated to fighting rural crime in England and Wales.

This was the finding from 37 forces who responded to a LibDem Freedom of Information request.

No force had more than 1% of its officers and staff deployed to rural crime teams, with nine admitting not having such units, including Norfolk and West Yorkshire.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Yet again, we are seeing the shocking neglect of our rural communities from this Government.

“Local communities are worried sick about the impacts of rural crime, and to have such a small number of officers dedicated to tackling this serious issue is shocking.

Unsolved

“No wonder so many cases go unsolved and criminals are getting off the hook. Police and Crime Commissioners have failed to tackle rural crime.The role needs to be abolished so that resources can go where it matters – improving frontline policing, including properly staffed rural crime teams.”

But Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne dubbed the Lib Dems as “naive”.

She told the Express: “One of the great strengths of British policing is that you have got local, regional and national responses.”

Ms Bourne said machinery theft may be a more regional issue but if shipped abroad, it would go national.

West Yorkshire Police said: “Rural communities have their own dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team officers who police according to the needs of their residents.”

Norfolk Police said it has two rural beat managers but added: “Policing of our communities is the responsibility of all police officers based in our rural districts, and is a focus of the beat mangers.”

The Home Office was contacted for comment.