Angelique Foster, Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, has launched a new partnership board bringing together key experts to form a united front against rural crime.
The Derbyshire Rural Crime Reduction Partnership (DRCRP) will help fulfil the Commissioner's commitment to Derbyshire's rural communities that will see them receiving a high standard of policing to support and protect them.
The Commissioner recently hosted the DRCRP's first roundtable discussion and was joined by representatives from the National Farmers' Union (NFU), National Trust, Natural England, Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and a host of other rural representatives including Derbyshire Neighbourhood Watch.
Members agreed to oversee the creation of a new rural crime reduction online platform. This unique resource will serve as a ‘one stop shop' for all rural crime issues, offering the public crime prevention advice and information on important issues relating to rural, wildlife and heritage crime. It will also signpost rural residents to further support and update them on the improvements being undertaken by partners. The objective is to prevent rural crime including fly-tipping, cross-border criminality, fraud and other public concerns such as rural theft.
The partnership will give rural communities across Derbyshire one united voice locally, regionally and nationally and push for the improvements rural residents need to protect their property and livelihoods.
A key priority in the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan is to tackle rural crime and promote increased communication and engagement across all rural areas, encouraging a higher level of reporting. The Partnership will build on the significant progress made to date to deliver on these commitments.
Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster said: "We have had some significant success in tackling rural crime across Derbyshire - these improvements are helping to protect and support our rural communities.
"The launch of this Rural Crime Reduction Partnership is the next step in our journey to deliver the support and robust response our rural residents need to make them feel even safer.
"I have worked hard with partners over the past two years to increase confidence and trust in the policing service. I made it clear when I was elected that everybody has a right to feel safe and confident - regardless of where they live.
"We are fortunate to have a wealth of experts and rural campaigners who understand the issues impacting safety in the countryside and our rural economy. Together, these specialists will become a formidable force, sharing their knowledge and expertise with policing colleagues to develop solutions that will have a marked difference on the prevention of rural crime in the future."
The DRCRP will oversee the work of partners to reduce rural crime and ensure key actions are implemented effectively and efficiently. It will also provide a forum to identify how partners can support the Commissioner's work in their specialist areas and work as a lobbying platform for national debates.