Wiltshire asked to protect itself from rural crime

Wiltshire Police say it is an under-reported crime

People who live and work in rural Wiltshire are encouraged to report rural crime to the police.

There is concern in the force that it is underreported.

Wiltshire Police is running Operation Ragwort, which focuses on tackling rural and heritage crime, alongside four other forces in the South West in an effort to make the region “hostile” to those who commit crime.

Inspector Andrew Lemon from the Rural Crime Team (RCT) said: “We experience thefts of quad bikes, trailers, horse stalls, wildlife offences, poaching, rabbit shooting and hunting offenses and these are primarily the areas we the team concentrates”.

He added that reporting such crimes is one of the biggest challenges facing the RCT.

insp. Lemon told Greatest Hits Radio that the force is looking to simplify the reporting process for people and is taking advice from the National Rural Crime Unit, as well as methods used by other police organizations to achieve this.

He pointed out that at this time of year, unlicensed waste hauling, littering and fly-tipping are “pretty rampant”.

And while most of the power to enforce these offenses rests with Wiltshire Council, the team takes proactive measures by carrying out targeted patrols, stopping vehicles and checking licences.

And while their latest patrol found no crime, additional patrols are planned.

Lock equipment and vehicles

insp. Lemon urges farm owners and those who live in rural areas to do everything they can to protect their property.

“Make sure their equipment is locked, make it really difficult for them,” he said, adding: “Don’t leave keys in tractors, quads and trailers.

Do not leave trailers unattended. We have a real problem with the theft of trailers and stalls.”

He also said the vehicles should be fitted with tracking tags, citing an incident where they proved vital in the recovery of a stolen quad bike.

“I had a quad bike stolen in North Wiltshire which was fitted with a tracker within hours, with the assistance of Thames Valley Police, they located that item and recovered it.”

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