MP goes on the beat with Rural Crime Team

Local MP, David Rutley, joined Cheshire Constabulary’s Rural & Wildlife Crime Team on patrol recently.

Following a briefing on the Team’s local priorities from Sergeant Rob Simpson, David took to the road with PC Rick Walker, visiting Rainow, Sutton and Langley, just some of the many small villages and hamlets that lie between Macclesfield and the county borders with Staffordshire and Derbyshire. This is one of the many beats patrolled regularly by the Rural Crime Team.

The Team investigates a wide variety of crimes affecting rural communities, including: the theft of agricultural machinery and diesel and all-terrain vehicles; fly-tipping; and criminal damage to crops and fields, as well as wildlife crimes such as hare-coursing, poaching, trespassing, and equine-related crime. Rural & Wildlife Crime Team Police Officers hold licenses from Natural England to investigate offences against protected species, and have received additional training in the specific challenges faced by rural communities.

Cheshire Constabulary has invested heavily in Rural Wildlife Crime over recent years. The Rural Team has increased from four officers to fourteen, as well as two Police Community Support Officers, and is also now supported by Special Constables and other volunteers. Three of the officer are posted in and around Macclesfield. The Team promotes interactive rural and wildlife awareness strategies, with dedicated Social Media profiles on Twitter and Facebook.

David was also updated on the progress of Ruralwatch, a police-led initiative that enables the sharing of information across Cheshire’s rural communities to tackle criminality and other issues affecting them. This work is supported by other voluntary organisations, such as Horsewatch, which has over 1,500 members, all actively working with the Police to prevent, detect and deter rural crime.

Speaking after his meeting, David said, “It was great to meet with Rob and his colleagues to discuss with them the Rural Crime Team’s strategic priorities and to spend time on the beat in our rural communities. I am grateful to the Team for the invaluable work its officers undertake to tackle rural crime and keep our local communities safe. From my visit, it is clear that local residents greatly value their hard work and professional commitment.”