Police forces across south east intensify battle against rural crime
Date of alert:
Friday, 8 March 2024
Crime Ref:
Force:
National
Police forces across the south east region have formed a new partnership as part of renewed efforts to intensify their battle against rural crime.
The South East Partnership Against Rural Crime (SEPARC) consists of Hampshire Constabulary, Thames Valley Police, Sussex Police, Surrey Police, and Kent Police.
Throughout the past couple of weeks, they have undertaken a number of localised and co-operative operations tackling agricultural and environmental criminals.
Operations include disrupting offenders alongside the National Rural Crime Team, providing security advice at service stations and stopping suspicious vehicles on the strategic road network.
The latest figures show that the cost of rural theft in the UK has shot up by nearly a quarter, as highly organised gangs of criminals continued to plague the countryside.
