Richard Holden MP meets with farmers concerned about issues of rural crime in Satley on 20th December.
Criminals head up to their farms in the middle of the night to go poaching (we’re not talking about some rural pastiche from The Archers here). They often come with dogs and firearms and cause pretty serious criminal damage - killing and leaving animals in the fields.
Those involved are often linked to other criminal activity and drive unregistered, uninsured and unroadworthy vehicles too. It is particularly threatening and pernicious when you consider that many people who live in the rural parts of our areas are older and these criminals attempt to intimidate people afraid to stand up to them.
We do have some good rural police and PCSOs who help. But more could be done, too. Richard will continue to raise the issue with our PCC and local police; it’s vital we communicate the extend on the problem to the local force.
Some changes are coming through in the Animal Welfare bill in Parliament to target people using dogs in this way, but Richard wants to see more action and will be pushing for legislation around car ownership to be tightened up so vehicles involved can be more easily traced and perpetrators dealt with as well as improving the safety of our roads.