Farmers’ concern over hare coursing

FARMERS in the Warrington area have expressed concern at the low level of response from police to rural crime – in particular hare coursing.
The concern was expressed at a meeting of farmers, Cheshire Police and Cheshire National Farmers’ Union organised by Warrington South MP David Mowat.
Focus of the meeting was how they could all work better together to tackle the problem.
Chief inspector Sarah Heath  said police took rural crime seriously and explained some of the initiatives they had put in place, including a night of rural action, Operation Shield and Poacher Watch.
She stressed the need for farmers to dial 999 if they suspected a crime was taking pace and to make it clear to the operator that the crime was in progress, to generate an immediate response.
If the crime had already taken  place, they should dial 101 and still report the incident so that police could investigate.
Chief Inspector Heath said the local community’s input was vital to help tackle rural crime, as they knew the area and could easily identify something suspicious.
But police should complete the loop by reporting back to farmers any feedback from their investigations.
After the meeting, Mr Mowat said: “I was delighted to be able to bring local farmers and the police together to discuss how we can all work together to tackle rural crime.
“In the past, perhaps understandably, Cheshire Police have been more focused on crime in urban areas but I am encouraged that this is now changing.
“There is an increasing body of evidence that sophisticated criminal gangs now see rural crime as an easier way of making money. Tackling this is going to need a collaborative effort between the police and the community so I am pleased that we’ve opened a new channel of communication.”