PCC joins new rural crime team to hear from local farmer
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden has joined officers from the county’s newly launched rural crime team on patrol, seeing first-hand how specialist vehicles and dedicated policing resources are helping protect rural communities.
The PCC spent time with two officers from Nottinghamshire Police’s new Neighbourhood Rural Crime Team, PC Hollie Marsh and PC Mark Holland, discussing the challenges facing people living and working in the countryside and how the team will respond to offences including agricultural theft, poaching and criminal damage.
He then joined officers in one of the Toyota Hilux 4x4 vehicles funded through investment from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, experiencing how its off-road capabilities allow police to reach locations that would be difficult to access in conventional patrol cars.
The visit also took him to Camm Farms, a family farm in Morton, near Retford, where he met Farm Manager Matt Turner to hear directly about the challenges facing the agricultural community and his views on the police response to rural crime.
Mr Turner spoke positively about the work being undertaken to improve rural policing and the importance of officers understanding the particular challenges faced by farmers and those working in isolated areas.
The visit follows the launch of Nottinghamshire Police’s new Neighbourhood Rural Crime Team, which is based at Ollerton Police Station and brings together four officers with a dedicated focus on tackling offences affecting rural communities.
The team builds on years of investment in rural policing, including specialist vehicles, equipment and enhanced training for more than 40 officers across the county.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: “It was fantastic to spend time with officers from our new rural crime team and see first-hand the difference that having the right people, equipment and resources can make to policing our countryside.
“Rural crime presents some very different challenges to those we see in our towns and cities. Farmers and people living in isolated communities can be particularly vulnerable, and offences such as machinery theft, poaching and criminal damage can have a devastating impact on their livelihoods.
“That’s why I’ve been determined to ensure that rural policing receives the attention and investment it deserves.
“Going out with officers in one of the Hilux vehicles we’ve funded really demonstrated why this specialist equipment is so important. Police need to be able to get out into fields, along farm tracks and across difficult terrain if they’re going to respond effectively to incidents and pursue those responsible.
“But just as important as having the right equipment is building strong relationships with the people we’re here to protect.
“It was particularly encouraging to visit Camm Farms and speak with Matt Turner about his experiences and the challenges facing farmers. Hearing his positive views about the work taking place was reassuring, and it reinforced just how important it is that we continue listening to our rural communities.
“We’ve already made significant improvements to Nottinghamshire’s rural policing capabilities, and this new dedicated team takes that commitment even further.
“I want farmers, landowners and everyone living in our countryside to know that rural crime is taken seriously, that their concerns are being heard and that we’re continuing to invest in the resources needed to keep them safe.”
The new team will work alongside existing neighbourhood policing officers across Nottinghamshire, providing additional specialist knowledge and resources to tackle recurring and emerging rural crime issues.
Its four officers will receive enhanced training to investigate offences including the theft of high-value agricultural machinery and tractor GPS systems, livestock theft, fuel and metal theft, hare coursing, poaching and other wildlife offences.
The team will also tackle fly-tipping and the illegal use of off-road vehicles, which can cause significant damage to farmland and rural environments.
With shift patterns covering both daytime and overnight periods, officers will focus on proactive patrols, gathering intelligence, investigating offences and identifying those responsible for criminal activity.
The aim is not simply to respond when crimes are committed, but to recognise patterns of offending, prevent further incidents and develop longer-term solutions alongside rural communities.
Nottinghamshire Police has already invested significantly in strengthening its rural policing capabilities, with specialist equipment including 4x4 vehicles, quad bikes and night-vision equipment helping officers operate more effectively in challenging environments.
The PCC has also funded drones to help rural communities protect their properties, deter criminal activity and capture evidence, complementing the work of officers and the county’s Rural Watch network.
These investments recognise the distinctive nature of rural crime, where offences can take place across large geographical areas, often in isolated locations and at times when victims may have limited opportunities to seek immediate assistance.
The introduction of the dedicated team is intended to strengthen the existing rural policing network, improve engagement with farmers and landowners, and ensure that those committing offences in the countryside face greater scrutiny and enforcement.
The PCC’s visit forms part of his ongoing engagement with Nottinghamshire’s rural communities, helping ensure that policing priorities and investment continue to reflect the experiences of those living and working in the county’s countryside.