Police train 24 officers to focus on rural crime in district

POLICE ARE training 24 officers to specialise in tackling rural crime in South Yorkshire.

The move comes following a major operation in the Penistone district of Barnsley to tackle rural crime, where there has been a growing demand for better policing over a period dating back around two years.

Farmers have reported an epidemic of thefts, including expensive and desirable equipment such as quad bikes and tractors, with the suspicion that some were spirited out of the area for quick overseas sales.

South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, has now met the National Farmers’ Union, which has had long standing concerns about the impact of crime on farmers in the area, along with Chief Insp Mark James, the county’s lead officer on rural crime.

The commissioner said: “Although South Yorkshire Police is predominantly an urban force, there are large areas of the county that are rural and they need to have their fair share of police resources. I am pleased that the force is training specialist officers and running rural Duxford operations – when resources are heavily concentrated for a period of time.

“In the recent Penistone operation, 50 farms were visited and packs of information and advice were left with farmers.”

As a result of public pressure, PCSOs and one police officer are now based back at the Penistone station – a new arrangement for neighbourhood policing in South Yorkshire, where officers are focused in larger ‘hubs’.

The NFU’s county chairman, Rachel Hallos, said: “We were pleased to get the opportunity for a second meeting with Dr Billings and hear about plans by the police to give a higher priority to rural crime – which I know has a real impact on farm businesses across the force area.”