A new team specifically targeting rural crime has been launched by Lincolnshire Police.
A team led by Sergeant Debbie Nunn and set to be up to eight constables, four of which will be recruited in April, will target rural crime such as hare coursing and wildlife crime, arson, flytipping, lead theft, theft from farms and rural properties as we well as offer crime prevention advice.
It will work alongside current officers and the now multi-county Operation Galileo in tackling crime in rural areas such as South Holland.
A similar unit previously existed but was disbanded due to staff cuts. However the recruitment of more officers has allowed it to bring back the unit, the force says.
Chief Inspector Phil Vickers, rural crime lead, said: “Lincolnshire is a large rural county and as part of our commitment to support rural we can remove the second ‘rural’ communities we are recruiting experienced Officers into the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT).
“This commitment means that we can focus on prevention, investigation and enforcement of offences that have a unique impact on rural communities, that we can develop our national lead on tackling Hare Coursing and work together to protect our Heritage, Wildlife and Environment.
“The team is made up of Officers passionate about protecting Lincolnshire Communities, targeting the criminals who come here to offend and making Lincolnshire the safest place to live, work and visit.”
In the lead up to the deployment of the new team, PC Martin Green, one of our rural crime officers, said: “Our main focus is to deter criminals and support our rural crime communities.
“Our aim is to stop criminals in their tracks by patrolling areas and attending incidents as soon as they are reported. We continue to ask anyone affected by crime to call us on 101, or call 999 to report a crime in action.”
Chief Constable Chris Haward added: “It is so important to have a dedicated team for this area of policing, which quite often can go unnoticed. We want to reassure the residents of Lincolnshire that we are here to disrupt rural crime, to catch those who think they can get away with it and to ensure our more isolated communities feel safe in their own homes.
“We have had cases of lead theft, along with other countryside offences. We understand how destructive these are to people’s livelihoods, and how damaging they can be emotionally to the victim. We want perpetrators of these crimes to know we are here to catch them: do not consider committing the crime because we will bring you to justice.
“Working closely with partners including the National Farmers’ Union, we can draw on expertise and resources from all over the county; together, we can provide the service needed to prevent rural crime.”
NFU Lincolnshire county advisers Rhonda Thompson and Johanna Musson said: “This is a massive step towards Lincolnshire cracking down on rural crime.
“The threat of crime is huge in the countryside. Farmers and growers bear the brunt of it and many often face a daily battle against a determined group of offenders.
“Having an RCAT sends a stark message to criminals and organised crime gangs aiming to target our rural areas – there is now a police unit entirely dedicated to preventing them causing crime and catching them if they commit it.
“We’re proud to have worked alongside the CLA, the police and the police and crime commissioner in the establishment of this new team.
“Now the hard work begins on making Lincolnshire a no-go zone for criminals.”
