Lincolnshire’s next Police and Crime Commissioner will be chosen today (May 5) – and they have been urged to make fighting rural crime a high priority.
People head to the polling stations with four candidates to choose from – Victoria Ayling (UKIP), Marc Jones (Conservative), Lucinda Preston (Labour) and Daniel Simpson (Lincolnshire Independents).
CLA – the organisation, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses – wants five key issues tackled in order to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the countryside.
- Tackle theft: “The theft of metal, fuel, machinery and livestock blights the lives of farmers and rural businesses, and the cost to the rural economy is significant”
- Stamp out wildlife and heritage crimes: “We need Police and Crime Commissioners who will engage with gamekeeper and landowners to prevent wildlife crimes such as poaching and hare coursing
- Combat fly-tipping: “the removal of waste costs farmers and rural businesses up to £150 million a year”
- Boost police presence: “more than one in four crimes in rural areas goes unreported. This cannot continue. To increase confidence in the police in our towns and villages, a strong police presence is needed”
- Endorse fair funding for rural areas: “It cannot be right that people are left at a higher risk of crime simply because of where they live”
CLA East regional director Ben Underwood said: “The CLA wants the incoming PCC to work with rural communities to combat crime in the county and protect our rural businesses. They will have the power to make a difference.”
It is estimated that rural crime cost the economy £800 million in 2015, with the average cost to victims £2,500 for rural households and £4,000 for businesses.
