.Local police work with council against rural crime
POOLICE teams in Thame, Chinnor and Watlington are running an operation working with partner agencies, including Oxfordshire County Council to target rural crime such as hare coursing.
PC Ian Kent, based at Thame police station, said: ?We have previously had a few problems with hare coursing but it is not just the act of putting dogs onto the hares that we are concerned with but this combined with the total disregard that the hare coursers have for other peoples? property.
?They cause criminal damage to crops, fences and buildings and in addition, those responsible are very often in breach of various traffic laws. The hare coursers in our area are also illegally using and damaging the surface of The Ridgeway National Trail.”
Sgt Steve Hookham, also based at Thame police station, said: ?We are lucky to live in an area of outstanding beauty and want to make sure it remains this way.
?I would like to reassure both farmers and landowners that we are taking any incidents of rural crime seriously and will be conducting extra patrols and doing all that we can to prevent and deter any further incidents from taking place.
?Since we have increased our patrols and temporary barriers have been installed on the Ridgeway, we have had no further offences of rural crime in the area.
?This is an excellent achievement but we will not get complacent and the neighbourhood policing team will be using our 4×4 where necessary to help us effectively patrol the more rural locations.”
Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Implementation, Rodney Rose, said: ?It is imperative that we stop vehicles engaged in illegal activity from using The Ridgeway, which is one of the most popular walking and riding routes in the county. We are willing to take the measures necessary to ensure that the route can be enjoyed by legitimate users.?
LINK to video showing police police in action against rural crime.
Anyone with information which could help the police should contact PC Ian Kent at Thame police station via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don?t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
PHOTO: Police officers patrol the Ridgeway on bikes, passing through temporary blocks which have reduced drastically the number of 4 x 4 vehicles accessing and damaging the Ridgeway.
12/08/10
