Hampshire & Isle of WightRURAL POLICING STRATEGY2013-2017 • SUMMARY

Protecting People and Places

FOREWORD

Welcome to the Rural Policing Strategy for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

When I first became Police and Crime Commissioner, I challenged HampshireConstabulary to deliver a consistent policing service across both urban andrural areas, with the specific requirement to close the gap between rural andurban solved crime rates. My aim in doing this was to improve confidence inpolicing in rural communities by demonstrating that their concerns were treatedas seriously as those of their urban counterparts. I am delighted to be able toendorse this Strategy which has been developed to achieve those outcomes.

Over 85% of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is rural and I am determined todo everything within my power to keep rural communities safe, and protectpeople and places across our region.

As part of the Strategy, I am excited about the launch of the Hampshire Alert,which will keep local communities better informed on issues relating to localpolicing and crime. Visit www.hampshirealert.co.uk to join the communityalert system.

Simon HayesSimon HayesThe Police andCrime Commissioner

David PrydeDavid PrydeAssistantChief Constable,(Territorial Operations)

The rural geography of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight presents us with uniquepolicing challenges. Being able to prevent and detect crime in rural areas is oftenharder with fewer witnesses to criminal activity coupled with greater opportunitiesfor criminals to target isolated properties and businesses.

Over the last three years we have made significant improvements in our approachto rural policing and have already seen a number of successful results in ourpursuit of those who target rural communities.

Our approach is clear – by working with the local community we can makeHampshire and the Isle of Wight a hostile place for criminals. We want ourrural communities to know that we are listening, we do take action and we arecommitted to tackling, disrupting and ultimately preventing criminal activityacross Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

I hope you take a few moments to read our Strategy which outlinesour operational approach to policing within our rural communitiesand how we will meet the Commissioner’s commitmentto halve the gap in solved crime rates betweenurban and rural beats by March 2016.

Vision

The overarching objective of the Rural Policing Strategy is to improve confidence in the policing of rural communities by reducing the rate at which crimes and anti-social behaviour (ASB) are committed, whilst increasing the number of offenders brought to justice. The Strategy will help Hampshire Constabulary deliver the Police and Crime Commissioner’s commitment to halve the gap in solved crime rates between urban and rural beats by March 2016.

Background

Since 2011, significant improvements have been made to the policing of rural communities but there is still more to be done to improve confidence in the policing of those areas. Whilst overall crime rates remain lower in rural beats when compared to urban areas, recorded crime patterns are largely similar.

However, rural crime is not simply a scaled-down version of urban crime. What makes the difference is partly the isolated and remote locations in which rural crime frequently occurs; partly the experience of the victim and wider rural community; and partly the lack of access to resources to deal with crime and ASB.

People living in rural areas frequently comment that much of rural life is built on trust within small communities. The effect of crime is in many ways therefore greater because of the breach of that trust, and the impact on a large section of the community who share that communal trust.

Definition of Rural Crime

Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight rural crime is defined as:

Crime or ASB that takes place in a rural location.In setting such a broad definition the Constabulary acknowledges that the police will usually take primacy on all criminal investigations, whereas responsibility for resolving ASB issues may rest with other agencies.

1

Baseline was a 10% gap at March 2013.1

Improve frontline policing to deter criminals and keep communities safe Place victims and witnesses at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system Work together to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in your community Reduce re-offending

Protecting People and Places

Thematic Areas

• Farm and Agricultural Crime – Acquisitive crime ranging from theft of metal to farm equipment and livestock continues to present a significant threat to rural communities.

• Rural Community Crime – Some types of crime and ASB are not bounded geographically and offences of business crime, domestic violence, drink driving, and drug misuse impact on victims in rural areas just as much as they do in urban environments.

• Heritage Crime - Offences which harm the value of England's heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations. Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight there are more than 10,000 registered Heritage sites.

• Wildlife and Environmental Crime – The illegal taking, disturbance, possession, trade or movement of animals or birds and/or their derivatives, as well as damage caused to the natural environment.

• Tourism Crime – Hampshire and the Isle of Wight remain popular destinations for visitors. Rural crime in “beauty spot” car parks, at festivals, or in our national parks impacts on wider community confidence.

• Serious and Organised Crime – Organised crime is not just an urban phenomenon. The potentially high financial rewards, combined with the general remoteness of rural locations, provide a fertile ground for organised criminal gangs from across the UK and from overseas.

Improve frontline policing to deter criminals and keep communities safe Place victims and witnesses at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system Work together to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in your community Reduce re-offending

Delivery of the Strategy

Delivery of the Strategy is founded upon the four PIER principles:

Prevention – In partnership with other stakeholders the Constabulary will make the rural environment both more secure and a more hostile place for criminals to operate in. They will do this by maximising opportunities to prevent, disrupt, and solve rural crime and ASB. In doing this they will pay particular attention to repeat and vulnerable victims. Actions that are planned to help prevent crimes and ASB include:

• Maintaining a visible policing presence and effective response in rural areas.

• Training staff with enhanced rural specialist training and knowledge.

• Making advice and guidance on prevention and current activity readily available to our communities.

• Providing rural officers with the appropriate equipment to undertake their role.

• Increasing the number of Special Constables and Volunteers working in rural areas.

• Working with partners and communities to target harden the rural environment.

• Engaging and supporting rural watch schemes, volunteers and community groups.

• Identifying repeat victims of crime and ASB and managing the response to their needs.

Improve frontline policing to deter criminals and keep communities safe Place victims and witnesses at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system Work together to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in your community Reduce re-offending

Improve frontline policing to deter criminals and keep communities safe Place victims and witnesses at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system Work together to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in your community Reduce re-offending

Intelligence – The flow of information sharing will be improved, both internally and externally, to identify levels of criminality and the tactical options available to target offenders. Planned actions include:

• Identifying those individuals and groups who cause the most harm to rural communities.

• Improving information-sharing with other forces and organisations to understand and identify those responsible for cross border criminality.

• Looking at new ways to improve the flow of information to police from communities about those committing rural crime.

• Identifying and developing tactical options to target offenders.

• Redefining processes for information gathering and ‘tasking’ in rural areas.

• Reviewing the rural forensic strategy to ensure forensic opportunities are maximised.

• Implementing standards of investigation for dealing with rural crime and ASB to ensure best evidence is secured.

Enforcement – Enforcement operations will be targeted at organised, prolific and opportunistic rural criminals who are causing the most harm. Planned actions include:

• Provision of an effective policing response to deal with rural crime and ASB based on a 3-level approach:

Level 1: Rural Safer Neighbourhood Teams dealing with local criminality.

Level 2: Country Watch teams comprising rural subject matter experts investigating specialist crime and cross district criminality.

Level 3: Area crime investigation team and force level 2 assets resourced to tackle serious, complex, and cross border criminality.

• Working in partnership with local authorities and other agencies to run joint rural crime and anti-social behaviour operations.

• Developing stronger working relationships with neighbouring forces to combat cross border criminality.

• Improving command and control functions by enhancing mapping functionality.

• Actively disrupting Organised Crime Groups operating or residing in rural areas.

Find out more:

Call Hampshire Constabulary on 101In an emergency always call 999Visit www.hampshire.police.ukand search Country Watch

Find us on Facebook

@HantsPolice

@HantsPCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire

Telephone: 01962 871595

Email: opcc@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Website: www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk

Reassurance – The police will work with partner organisations to help develop vibrant, cohesive, confident and safe rural communities. They will do this by:

• Providing an excellent service at the first point of contact by ensuring staff are familiar with policy and procedure, and understand the impact of rural crime on communities.

• Improving communication with rural communities to inform and update on current trends, activity and performance against the Police and Crime Commissioner's rural crime targets.

• Exploring means of improving the way our rural communities can contact us.

• Conducting regular monthly engagement activity at neighbourhood level to identify and address local rural policing priorities.

• Actively working with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Rural Crime Partnership.

• Developing key individual networks in rural locations that reflect the diversity of our rural communities.

• Actively seeking feedback from rural communities on the Constabulary’s performance in delivering this Strategy.

Rural Beats

Using data derived from the Rural Payments Agency, Hampshire Constabulary has defined its rural beats. That data is being enhanced by local landowners and those who work and use the land, to show items of particular interest that are located on the land they are responsible for, for example fuel storage units, barns and outbuildings, and holdings of plant and machinery. This work will assist the operators who take the first 101 or 999 call to better deploy the correct resources to deal with the problem being reported.

Partnership Working

Partnership working is key to delivering this Strategy and Hampshire Constabulary remains committed to working with rural associations, organisations and stakeholders. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Rural Crime Partnership provides coordination and strategic leadership in tackling rural crime and ASB issues across the two counties. Membership of the Partnership includes representation from:

• Force Strategic Independent Advisory Group • Hampshire County Council • English Heritage

• Environment Agency • Crown Prosecution Service • Country Land and Business Association

• National Farmers Union • Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service • Natural England

• National Gamekeepers Organisation • Test Valley Farm Watch • Hampshire Horse Watch

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