Visitors to this year's Hertfordshire County Show were able to see Herts Police's mini police tractors.
Made from recycled and donated parts, they proved a big hit with both adults and children when officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Rural Operational Support Team (ROST) and Harpenden Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) attended the Herts County Show in Redbourn.
In fact, agricultural machinery firm Ernest Doe donated the force a full-size tractor for the event, which officers decked out in Herts Police livery using upcycled materials.
Officers at the show spoke to visitors about crime prevention, safety initiatives and the new rural crime strategy.
“There was a great turn out,” said ROST Sergeant Alex Winning.
“We spoke to hundreds of people across the weekend. Events like these are so important — they’re a great way for us to not only show a high visibility policing presence locally, but also to strengthen the relationships between the constabulary and our rural communities and talk to local residents about any concerns they may have.”
The Rural Strategy Plan sets out areas of focus for ROST and rural officers based within local policing areas, including fly-tipping; equine crime; poaching and hare coursing; farm machinery, plant and vehicle theft; fuel theft; livestock worrying and wildlife crime, as well identifying any vulnerabilities.
Throughout the year, officers will be attending events, reaching out to the rural community, sharing crime prevention advice, conducting operations and carrying out hotspot and intelligence-led patrols.
They will also be working closely with partner agencies, neighbouring forces and rural teams across the country to share information, raise awareness of rural crime, catch criminals and reduce offences.
There’s also a new section on the Hertfordshire Constabulary website dedicated to rural and wildlife crime, containing a wealth of advice and information around the different types of crimes, as well as guidance on how to prevent them.
You can visit the new rural and wildlife crime pages via the constabulary website at https://www.herts.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rc/rural-crime/
Unfortunately, research shows a lot of rural crime often goes unreported, so police have introduced a new, direct reporting system to make it easier for people to do so.
Officers need to know what crime is happening in rural areas so they can allocate resources in the most effective way.
If a crime is in progress, always dial 999 straight away.
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