Crackdown on rural crime gangs steps up

The fight against organised crime gangs steps up this week. National Rural Crime Action Week runs from 8-12 September and highlights the importance of the police, local authorities and rural communities working in partnership to combat rural crime.

Tackling the issue is one of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s top priorities.

The theft of livestock and agricultural machinery, hare coursing, black market gambling, poaching and fly-tipping have a devastating impact on farmers and landowners.

PCC Donna Jones said: “These criminal gangs pose an immediate and growing threat.

“They subject farmers and landowners to unacceptable levels of violence and intimidation.

“The gangs perform meticulous supply and demand operations; stealing items like quad bikes or plant machinery to order and shipping them overseas.

“These criminals are serious and organised, and many are also involved in the supply and sale of drugs – often on a large and global scale.

“Farmers and communities, many of whom are already struggling with isolation, have had enough of being targeted. They deserve to feel safe and protected which is why, in June this year, I launched the Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force.”

Since its set up, the Task Force has successfully recovered between £160-170k worth of stolen goods.

Task Force Inspector, Cath MacDonald, said: “Officers are routinely supporting colleagues in other teams both over the county borders and locally, such as neighbourhoods, response, firearms and roads policing, to proactively disrupt criminals as well as respond to ongoing crimes.

“The team has been visiting sites of interest and recently conducted a warrant at one such site in Odiham where tens of thousands of pounds of suspected stolen goods were seized.

“Four arrests were made as part of that investigation alone.

“On top of this they are out patrolling all over the county, stopping vehicles and making arrests.

“All of this hard work will continue – not only during this week of action but all year round.”

Insp Cath MacDonald

According NFU Mutual, rural crime cost the UK £44.1M in 2024. That’s a 16.5% decrease year-on-year but there’s always work to be done.

PCC Donna Jones added: “This is why I continue to invest millions of pounds in dealing with the issue through initiatives like the Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force, ANPR cameras, named Local Bobbies and thermal imaging technology to track offenders.

“More than 75% of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is rural, amounting to hundreds of square miles of countryside and agricultural land.

“We need to take the fight to the criminals and let them know we’re coming for them.”