New Lancashire campaign targets rural crime
A number of agencies have teamed up with the police in Lancashire in a new campaign to combat rural crime.
A number of agencies have teamed up with the police in Lancashire in a new campaign to combat rural crime.
Lancashire Constabularys Operation Firecrest was launched this week with high-profile policing activity across the county. As part of the initiative, officers conducted extra patrols, targeted suspected offenders, made visits to farms and rural businesses to offer crime-prevention advice and hosted community meetings, as well as providing a police presence at auction marts and other key locations.
In addition, specialist wildlife officers and representatives from the Environment Agency, United Utilities and other agencies carried out enforcement activity, including anti-poaching patrols and warrants.
Multi-agency roadside checks are being used to identify travelling criminals and to deter the theft of livestock and plant equipment. Farmers, landowners and gamekeepers have been encouraged to work collectively with the police to help identify, disrupt and deter criminals targeting the Lancashire countryside through initiatives such as Farm Watch and Rural Watch.
Superintendent Richard Spedding said: Nationally, there has been a marked increase in rural crime but fortunately, here in Lancashire, any increases in rural crime have been small and overall crime levels across the county are still low.
However, any increase will clearly cause concern, particularly among communities who feel isolated, like rural communities, which is why we are determined to take action.
The most common type of offences in our rural communities include fuel and scrap metal theft as well as theft of agricultural machinery and offences like poaching and hare coursing. These are the type of activities we hope to target as part of Operation Firecrest.
Our intention is to offer advice and reassurance to our rural communities to help prevent crime, to work with local communities to detect crime and, of course, to target offenders and send a clear message to them that their behavior is not acceptable and will most likely result in arrest.
Members of the junior police and communities together (PACT) from Lancashire Constabulary have designed a card to help other youngsters stay safe online
The nine to 11-year-olds came up with the idea of producing the card, which includes tips for staying safe.
Stephen Edmond, Skelmersdale police community support officer (PCSO), said: The children enjoyed designing this card and discussing the issues that their peers may come across online. As children have designed this card, it makes it more appealing to other youngsters while helping us to get
some very important messages out about how to stay safe online.
The cards suggest that children should tell an adult about a problem, get help if they need it and stay in control when using the internet. They also warn against giving out personal details, sending pictures and meeting anyone in person who they have met online, as well as providing helpful telephone numbers and websites.
The creative cards, funded by Skelmersdale Action for Youth (SAY), have now been handed out to every child in year five and six in all the 16 primary schools across Skelmersdale.