Rural crime has a lasting effect on its victims and creates a huge financial burden for businesses in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Research from the University of Durham on behalf of the National Rural Crime Network shows that criminals who commit rural crime are linked to national and international organised crime groups (OCGs) which are well versed in other types of serious crime such as modern slavery, drug supply and firearms distribution.

A number of these criminals are dangerous individuals who have little or no regard for people's welfare or property.

Wiltshire Police have adopted a strategy to tackling rural crime which recognises the need to take a whole force approach. Whilst the rural crime team remain the subject experts, it's important that neighbourhood policing teams, drone, dog and response units and, where necessary, CID and armed response units are all on hand when crime is committed in our rural communities.

A collaboration to combat rural crime called Operation Ragwort has been formed between all police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners in the south-west and our bordering forces in the south. Its goal is to share intelligence and resources between the forces in Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Thames Valley in order to provide a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to rural crime.

The Rural Crime Team is a specialist team of officers committed to tackling a broad range of rural crimes including hare coursing and poaching, agricultural plant and machinery theft, heritage crime, livestock crime and crimes against birds of prey.

Rural Crime is a key focus of the PCC's Police and Crime Plan, and Wiltshire Police’s Chief Constable Roper has outlined two key priorities for the team – to tackle hare coursing and poaching, and to tackle the theft of agricultural plant and machinery thefts.

Whether it's recreational crimes such as hare coursing, which damages crops and causes thousands of pounds of damage, or targeted thefts which can seriously impact rural businesses; through partnership working and intelligence led activity, our mission to disrupt these criminal gangs will be successful.