Norfolk PCC says plans to tackle rural crime are 'always evolving'
It's ahead of the Royal Norfolk Show where Giles Orpen Smelie will be listening to the public's concerns
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk tells us their plans to tackle rural crime are "always evolving'.
It's ahead of the Royal Norfolk Show where Giles Orpen Smelie and some of our senior officers will be speaking and listening to the public's concerns.
"Understanding what's coming down the street is so important"
"A lot rural crime is done by organised crime groups, most of them do not originate in Norfolk.
"If we, for example, know number plates of vehicles- we have an automatic recognition system on the roads so we can pick them up as they cross the county boundary and we are able to use Police assets to deal with that. That has proved particularly effective against Hare-coursers, for example.
"Understanding what's coming down the street is so important. Sharing experience can also be useful- another will force will come up with a good idea- perhaps using a piece of technology like drones, for example.
"If we listen to what they are doing and use their experiences, we do better.".
"Prevention has got to be the start point"
"The trends of rural crime are downwards in most of these crime types. That said, I would never wish to sound complacent there's always the risk that crime could go up, for whatever reason.
"Be that because of the cost of living crisis or because we 've got an organised crime group working in the county.
"This has to be a partnership- and people need to take responsibility.
"It's very easy for me to say here compared to those who have popped home for lunch after a long day. Nevertheless, prevention has got to be the start point."