Following incidents of burglaries, criminal damage, poaching and attacks on livestock within Herefordshire, West Mercia Police are running a ‘50 days of focus’ on rural crime.

In this campaign, the force aims to highlight the good work from police and partners going on each and every day in the rural communities.

When a crime occurs in a rural location it can have a major impact on the victim. It impacts their livelihood and their ability to do business. It can also create a fear of crime in isolated locations and a feeling of being cut off from support. As part of the campaign, Police officers will be visiting villages and rural communities more frequently and speaking to the people directly affected by this type of crime.

Superintendent Sue Thomas, said: “We have police and partners mobile contact centres, dedicated wildlife crime officers, rural crime coordinators, a ‘Rural Matters’ campaign to encourage people to report crime and signpost crime reduction advice. These have all been implemented to provide reassurance, protection, advice and extra police visibility.”

Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, said: “I am committed to delivering a safer West Mercia, and the work to combat rural crime is just one part of a more complex plan to address these issues. I will ensure that voices and priorities are heard and acted on from within our rural communities and that specific needs are addressed. I will ensure that West Mercia Police have the resources to be visible and accessible, in all of our communities.”