Dear Editor,
It is said that rural crime is the Cinderella of priorities for the police, but I have seen first-hand the pain caused by callous and destructive criminals and I am determined to make tackling this and other forms of rural crime a priority. Our rural communities face livestock theft, poaching, anti-social behaviour, illegal raves, County Lines drug dealing, expensive equipment being stolen and fencing being vandalised with the subsequent secondary effects and clear-up time that causes.
I grew up in a rural parish myself, and worked on farms during the holidays, and I learnt to appreciate and love the countryside. This was deepened during my time as a soldier serving in extreme but stunning environments, from the Arctic to the desert, and working alongside the Royal Malay Police running counter-terrorism operations in the jungles of Borneo. The natural world, including our wonderful English countryside, is precious and I want farmers in Avon and Somerset to know I will have their backs.
There is much to be done at the practical level of farm security and policing, including better co-ordination between agencies, better use of intelligence and deterrence, CCTV and after-event follow-up. These solutions are at a police operational level, but the PCC helps to set the strategy. I will focus on more visible policing, fighting rural crime and serious organised crime, generating better community representation in our police, promoting smarter working with local health services and giving better support for our officers.
I am very keen to hear ideas for solutions from across our communities and invite anyone and everyone to complete my crime survey online at www.markshelford.org.uk. Together we can ensure the police focus on our priorities and tackle the crimes we feel most strongly about, including rural crime.
Mark Shelford
Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in Avon and Somerset
(Letter from Mark Shelford to Rural & Farming Outlets, Published on 3 March 2020)
