Rural Crime
In recent years, we have seen rural crime becoming increasingly organised, serious and persistent in nature. I am campaigning to crack down on rising rural crime, including car theft and fly-tipping, and to secure the dedicated policing resources rural areas need. I am also pushing for stronger action on speeding in our villages, with better enforcement and improved road safety measures.
I have raised this issue in Parliament.
It troubles me that there are still so few officers dedicated to tackling crime specific to rural areas. I have spoken in Parliament about the need to address the types of crime that are particularly prevalent in rural constituencies like ours. Please read here my contribution on the need to tackle car theft, and here on the need to crack-down on fly-tipping - a crime not only against local people, but against the environment.
I have submitted parliamentary questions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs…
“To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle organised crime networks involved in fly-tipping in rural areas.”
Please see the full question and answer here.
“To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support people affected by fly-tipping required to clear waste on private land at their own expense.”
Please see the full question and answer here.
“To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support (a) local authorities and (b) enforcement agencies to tackle fly-tipping in rural areas.”
Please see the full question and answer here.
“To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle organised crime networks involved in fly-tipping in rural areas.”
Please see the full question and answer here.
“To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to provide support to people affected by environmental crimes.”
Please see the full question and answer here.
…and to the Department for Transport.
“To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to help tackle speeding in (a) Stratford-on-Avon constituency and (b) other rural areas.”
Please see the full question and answer here.
I am also in active communication with Warwickshire Police about the need for more speed cameras, and enforcement of speed limit laws.