Home Secretary commits to tackling the blight of rural crime for thousands of people in Hazel Grove constituency during roundtable.
Communities across Hazel Grove constituency can be assured that the government is committed to tackling the blight of rural crime.
Paul Athans, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove, was given the reassurance at a roundtable attended by the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon James Cleverley MP, and farming Minister, Mark Spencer MP.
Paul along with other candidates and MPs raised issues ranging from hare coursing, the theft of farm machinery, and the need for increased rural policing. The menace of organised gangs operating from illegal encampments, which can lead to ‘no-go’ areas being created was also brought to the fore, as well as what tools the Government is giving to police forces to work effectively across constabularies to prevent and reduce the county lines drug trade.
Commenting, Paul said:
I am grateful to the Home Secretary and the Minister for Farming for taking the time to meet with us, rural crime is often an unreported and overlooked issue and I am pleased the government is taking a steadfast approach to tackling it.
I am committed to working with local people across Hazel Grove constituency to ensure that whether they live in one of our brilliant towns, district centres, or beautiful rural areas, they feel safe in their own homes and, importantly, safe to go about their day-to-day business without fear or concern.
Farmers and rural communities must believe the police are on their side, and I am grateful that the Government is already taking robust action to deliver this.”
Home Secretary, The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, added:
Far too often, rural crime can be the scourge on our rural communities, but the Government are committed to tackling this issue.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act empowers and equips the police and courts with the powers they need to combat hare coursing, and the Government is supporting the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act, which aims to prevent the theft of quad bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles. We are also funding the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the new National Rural Crime Unit, which will support forces nationally in their response to rural crime such as theft of farming construction machinery, livestock theft and rural fly-tipping.
Whether someone lives in the countryside, a town, or a city, they should have the same peace of mind when going about their daily lives.”
Sir Mark Spencer MP, Minister for Food and Farming, also said:
It is vitally important that farmers and rural residents can live and work safe from crime.
We are working closely with likes of the National Farmers Union, and others to share good practices, and we have already funded a post within the national crime unit to explore how the police’s role in tackling fly-tipping and theft of farm machinery can be optimised.”
