🐏🚜 “This type of criminality should matter to all of us"

It’s national Rural Crime Action Week, and Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson is urging anyone affected to report offending to Surrey Police.

Rural crime is often under-reported, both in Surrey and across the country.

But Ellie said: “Rural crime can have a far greater impact on society at large than it might first appear.

“This criminality is becoming increasingly organised, meaning the theft of farming machinery may be fuelling offences like drug dealing, child exploitation and modern slavery.

“Offences involving livestock farming and the supply chain may also impact food security, which is key to national infrastructure.

“Rural crime is often serious and persistent in nature, with criminals repeatedly targeting certain locations to get what they want.

“This type of criminality should matter to all of us.”

Ellie has recently written to the Government to call for tighter legislation on catapult use. She has also urged dog-owners to keep their pets on leads after a Dorking farmer lost almost 30 sheep to a single attack.

Watch more here 📽️

You can read more about Ellie's work by visiting surrey-pcc.gov.uk