HAMPSHIRE police have committed to tackling crime in rural areas with the launch of a new strategy.

The new Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, launched by Rural and Wildlife Crime Inspector Cath MacDonald, sets out how officers intend to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in rural communities across the county.

There are four principles at the heart of the strategy – prepare for when rural and wildlife crime may occur, preventing where possible and mitigating its impact through use of intelligence, data and technology and preventing and deterring people from engaging in rural and wildlife crime through effective partnerships, media and communication and public engagement.

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Officers will also protect rural communities and wildlife from the impact of crime through a coordinated effort, utilising all available resources and stakeholders and pursue criminals causing harm to rural communities, with a focus on organised criminals.

Rural and Wildlife Crime Inspector Cath MacDonald said: “We want to reassure rural communities that they are just as important as urban areas when we are providing an effective and efficient policing service in response to the needs and concerns of our local communities.

“The Constabulary recognises some of the unique challenges faced by our rural communities and the fact that many feel isolated and vulnerable; whether that be agricultural and rural business crime, environmental and heritage crime, game sports and wildlife crime to offences going under reported due to rural isolation such as domestic abuse.

“We hope that the new Rural & Crime Strategy provides much-needed focus on dealing robustly with rural and wildlife crime across our communities in the coming months and years.

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“I would like to emphasise that we will be seeking to provide those within our rural communities a greater level of local policing that meets their expectations. This includes being visible and having a greater presence in rural areas, providing reassurance to our local residents that their concerns are being listened to and discouraging criminality.”

A priority of the strategy seeks to build on existing partnership relationships to protect communities and wildlife, including organisations such as the RSPCA, DFRA and the Environment Agency.

Meanwhile, improving support to victims affected by crime in rural areas, especially those who have an increased fear of crime and vulnerability, is also high on the agenda via the newly published strategy.