The Rural Services Network highlights critical findings from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) regarding the state of rural policing in England and Wales. Based on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by the CLA to 36 police forces, the report reveals significant deficiencies in dedicated rural policing resources, equipment, and funding. These insights underscore the urgent need for reforms and enhanced resources to address rural crime effectively.

Increasing Rural Crime Rates

Rural crime has surged by 32% since 2011, compared to a 24% increase in urban areas. The CLA's investigation shows that many police forces are ill-equipped to handle this rise, with several lacking specialised rural crime teams and essential tools. This rise in crime and the corresponding lack of resources highlight a growing crisis in rural law enforcement.

Equipment Shortages

The report reveals that many rural police forces lack basic equipment necessary for effective policing. For example, Cleveland, Derbyshire, and Lancashire are without high-powered torches, and several forces lack mobile ANPR cameras and rural drone kits. Such shortages severely limit the ability of rural police to respond to and monitor criminal activities, particularly at night or in remote areas.

Insufficient Dedicated Officers

The FOI responses indicate a severe shortage of dedicated rural officers. Some forces, including Durham and Nottingham, do not have any rural crime teams. Where such teams exist, they are often under-resourced and make up a small fraction of the total police force. This shortage of dedicated officers hampers efforts to address the unique challenges of rural crime effectively.

Need for Standardised Equipment and Training

The CLA recommends the implementation of a standard Rural Crime Equipment Pack for all rural forces, funded centrally and reviewed annually. This would ensure that all rural officers have access to essential tools and training, enabling them to perform their duties more effectively.

Lack of Crime Tracking Systems

Another critical issue identified is the absence of universal tags for tracking common rural crimes, such as hare coursing and machinery theft. Without these tags, police forces struggle to track trends and coordinate responses to rural crime. The CLA calls for the development of universal data standards to facilitate better tracking and coordination.

Delayed Response Times

Response times for emergency calls in rural areas are significantly longer than in urban areas. For instance, in Nottingham, the average response time for immediate danger calls is 26 minutes, well over the target time. These delays further exacerbate the challenges faced by rural communities in dealing with crime.

CLA's Call to Action

The CLA is urging political parties and law enforcement agencies to address these deficiencies by:
- Providing a standard Rural Crime Equipment Pack for all rural forces.
- Developing a fixed Service Level Agreement with ringfenced resources.
- Implementing universal data standards for tracking rural crimes.

The CLA's findings highlight the pressing need for improved resources and coordination in rural policing. With rural crime rates rising, it is crucial for political parties and law enforcement agencies to take decisive action to protect rural communities and ensure they are not left vulnerable.

Read more on the CLA’s findings HERE.