WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has supported plans to improve the prevention and detection of rural crime during a meeting with local police chiefs.
The MP met with West Mercia Police Chief Constable Richard Cooper and Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion to get an update on local policing initiatives.
Rural crime is a significant concern for Dame Harrett’s constituents, and she was given a briefing on plans to improve action on crime prevention as well as efforts to increase staffing numbers to increase police visibility across the force’s largely rural area.
Dame Harriett said: “Rural crime and fly tipping are two of the major issues that are raised with me by rural business owners and I encouraged the police leadership to work with the local community to understand the challenges and act where there is evidence of offences.
“I am told that action is being taken and arrests have been made but I have been asked to share the message to constituents that it is important that local people report crime to allow the police to collect intelligence and act where possible.
“Over recent weeks, I have had meetings with local farmers and business owners and they have seen a rise in hare coursing which needs prompt action.
“We also discussed the challenges of organised crime moving onto UK high streets and I was reassured that the appearance of dodgy vape shops, car washes and barbers in West Worcestershire are under close scrutiny.
“The Government is consulting on whether to merge police forces and I am extremely concerned that important resources will be lost from rural areas to shore up stretched resources managing urban crime.
“I took this opportunity to pass on my thanks, on behalf of my constituents, to the police. We are blessed to live in an area where very serious crime, is thankfully very rare and it means that they can focus their attentions on matters like the sale of illegal drugs, cannabis farms, anti-social behaviour and low-level criminality which still affect our every day lives.”
