Rural Crime Volunteers Playing Their Part to Tackle Rural Crime During ASB Awareness Week

Rural crime volunteers are playing their part in helping to tackle rural crime during Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week.

The volunteers get involved with crimes within the rural community such as thefts of livestock and agricultural equipment, damage to fences, hedges and land and heritage crime.

Volunteer Team Leader Karel Simpson takes part in weekly tours of duty in rural areas of the force along with a team of another four people.

With radio access direct into the Force Control Room the team keeps a watchful eye over public and private land, reporting any suspicious activity to uniformed response colleagues.

They also gather intelligence on suspicious vehicles and people which is then added to police systems and they give talks in village halls and offer crime prevention advice.

The volunteers also support the larger scale Operation Checkpoint which runs quarterly from early evening until the early hours of the morning. 

The operation sees regular and volunteer Cleveland Police officers joined by agencies like the Forestry Commission, the Environment Agency and even HMRC as they gather intelligence and take action against so-called cross border offenders.

Areas such as Eston Hills where there has been antisocial behaviour, crime and arson will be patrolled, alongside partner agencies.

Mr Simpson said: “We’re always very happy to support awareness campaigns where the issues effect local communities. The rural areas of Cleveland are often targeted by those who commit antisocial behaviour such as using illegal off-road bikes, damaging the land and crimes such as arson. These will continue to get regular attention and we can also pay reassurance visits to farmers who have concerns about crime on and around their land.”

Redcar and Cleveland Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Jon Hagen said: “The contribution that the rural volunteers make across Cleveland is hugely valuable, they act as the eyes and ears providing a crucial link to our neighbourhood teams.

“The rural volunteers have made an outstanding effort to support the frontline, working shoulder-to-shoulder with their regular colleagues, providing critical intelligence, supporting policing operations and helping to combat ASB offences in our rural communities.”

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