New funding boost to disrupt rural criminality and protect livelihoods

Nearly £70k of funding has been earmarked for rural crime prevention activities across the force area as part of a mission to create safer and prosperous communities.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has carefully selected a series of projects to benefit from the first round of his Community Action Fund, focused exclusively on Rural Crime.

The funding, which amounts to a total of £68,383, is part of the PCC’s ambitious new approach to community safety across the force area, capitalising on the knowledge, skills and resources within local neighbourhoods to prevent crime before it happens and help people to thrive.

Successful initiatives include:

• A Datatag (high-tech property marking) event at Melton Mowbray Market with support from the force’s Rural Crime Team.

• Rural Crime Workshops and a bank of equipment including wireless driveway alarm systems, solar security lights, poacher blocks, Datatags, air tags and UV marking pens to share with vulnerable farmers.

• Rural Crime Roadshow to be hosted in Thurlaston and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) Loddington Estate, which will see members of the force’s Rural Crime Team working alongside security firms to provide rural crime advice and to distribute crime prevention tools.

• The distribution of fly grazing posters to vulnerable landowners to deter fly grazers.

• Distribution of Datatags for local farmers.

• Distribution of CCTV cameras for local farmers

• Educational workshops for schools in rural areas concentrating on crime prevention and how to stay safe as well as report rural crime.

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “I am delighted with the breadth and scope of the initiatives I’ve been able to support through my first Community Action Fund. This funding round attracted a wealth of innovative and carefully thought-out projects, spanning a wide geographical area, and I’m looking forward to reporting on the outcomes as these initiatives take shape.

“There is a real mix between practical crime prevention equipment and technology and educational provision and resources to give people the information they need to reduce their risk of crime. Clearly, both approaches work hand in hand to make communities more resilient to crime.

“Our rural communities deserve the very best service and support to feel safe. Rural Crime is treated very seriously by the force, and I will continue to take every opportunity to talk to residents, farmers and businesses to understand their concerns and to invest funding in designing solutions that make a tangible difference to their lives and livelihoods.”

The PCC has previously spoken of his plans to give residents a frontline role in his plans to build safer, stronger and more prosperous communities.

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