South Norfolk rural crime crackdown

Police in south Norfolk will be launching a new initiative next month to drive down crimes affecting rural communities.Although crime in the district has fallen by 11pc in the past year, officers say analysis has shown that certain crimes feature more prevalently in rural areas.

Police in south Norfolk will be launching a new initiative next month to drive down crimes affecting rural communities.

Although crime in the district has fallen by 11pc in the past year, officers say analysis has shown that certain crimes feature more prevalently in rural areas.

These are: Heating oil theft; garage and shed break-ins; cycle theft; thefts from gardens; thefts from churches; thefts from farms and crime involving elderly or vulnerable victims.

As a result, community policing teams will be working with their communities to pay closer attention to reducing and detecting these crimes.

Every neighbourhood will have a named police community support officer (PCSO) who will help identify potential hot-spots or vulnerable households and facilitate any crime prevention advice and services.

Inspector Andrew Taylor, in charge of policing in the Wymondham, Hethersett and Mulbarton area, said: “South Norfolk is a safe place to live and has seen a reduction in crime of 11pc in the past year. But I am keen to continue to drive down crime and this initiative will target rural crime and provide assistance, reassurance and protection to victims.

“I will be assisted by nominated PCSOs in every neighbourhood and we will be looking to contact victims of crime to offer assistance with crime prevention and reduction advice, as well as offering to provide hardware such as locks to increase security at vulnerable properties.”

The initiative will be launched in September following preliminary analysis.

To contact your safer neighbourhood team about the initiative or for crime prevention advice call 0845 456 4567 and ask for your local representative.