WORCESTER will host a conference on preventing wildlife and rural crime tomorrow, Tuesday, January 3.
The event at West Mercia Police’s headquarters at Hindlip Hall will bring together police and experts to discuss ways of preventing crime in the rural areas of the region.
Speakers at the event will include Sergeant Allie Webster of West Mercia and Warwickshire Police’s rural and Business Crime Project, Ian Guildford from the National Wildlife Crime Unit and Carol Cotterill from Rural Watch, while representatives from the RSPCA will also be in attendance.
Sgt Webster said rural and wildlife crime can have a devastating impact on farmers and small businesses.
“The alliance of Warwickshire and West Mercia makes us the largest geographically land-locked policing area in the country, which contains a rich tapestry of river courses, hills, canal systems and agricultural land,” she said.
“We also have a collective total of over 220 separate nature reserves across the alliance area.
“Because of this, it is important that we are equipped and prepared to tackle wildlife crime, as well as be there to support those who have unfortunately become victims of rural based crimes.”
West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore has pledged £1 million every year towards rural, business and cyber crime.
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