Rory welcomes distinction between rural and urban policing in run up to Cumbria PCC elections

Rory has this week welcomed the ‘Rural Crime Manifesto’ published by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which draws attention to the different challenges rural and urban police forces face. The manifesto’s release comes ahead of the approaching Police and Crime Commissioners elections in November, which aim to bring increased democratic accountability to the police force. In it, the manifesto identifies metal and fuel theft, poaching and fly-tipping as crimes that have a particularly significant impact on rural businesses and communities. Environmental crime such as fly-tipping is estimated to cost private landowners up to £150 million a year to remove.

Speaking on the matter, Rory said: “The findings of the CLA’s manifesto are quite right: rural crime is an immensely pressing problem that we need to grapple with, and one which the new Police and Crime Commissioner will have to engage in. Our Cumbrian police already do a fantastic job in difficult terrain, and I believe they respond well to local people and issues. It is vital therefore that those standing in the election for the Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner recognise the nature of rural crime and propose measures which seek to address it. Rural communities must be assured that the crimes and concerns which matter the most to them are now being properly addressed.”

Rory has offered his strong backing to local Conservative PCC candidate Richard Rhodes. Should he be elected as a local PCC, Richard Rhodes has stated that his aims would be to establish an Executive Committee to oversee policy and strategy deliverable within budget; to create an Office of Public Engagement to ensure better dialogue with constituents; a programme of Victim Support, to allocate compensation and support to victims of crime; and to target some of the key issues that are problematic in Cumbria, particularly rural crime.

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